Monday, October 06, 2025

Celebrating Diversity - Oct 2025

This month, we celebrate the following Diversity.

• Filipino American History Month honors the history, culture, and accomplishments of Filipino Americans, highlighting their significant contributions to American society and recognizing their unique heritage and identity.
• Global Diversity Awareness Month is dedicated to celebrating and increasing awareness about the diversity of cultures and ethnicities, as well as the positive impact that diversity can have on society.
• LGBTQ+ History Month is a US observance that recognizes the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals, as well as the history of the gay rights movement.
• National Disability Employment Awareness Month in the US draws attention to employment barriers that still need to be addressed.
• Polish American Heritage Month commemorates the first Polish settlers and celebrates the history and culture of the Polish community in America.

Monday, September 29, 2025

Celebrating - Gabriel Jesús Iglesias

As we continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I would like to recognize Gabriel Jesús Iglesias, better known as Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias.  He is a hilarious comedian, and my wife truly enjoys his shows.  I even bought one of his signed Bobble heads for her on Christmas.

What I love about his humor is that he doesn't curse or use derogatory language; instead, he uses good humor, which is probably why my wife is a big fan of him.  

He worked his way from a low-income family to super stardom through his dedicated work style.

He is the first comedian to sell out Dodger Stadium, which happened in 2022. (1)

1. Gabriel Iglesias - Wikipedia

Monday, September 22, 2025

Celebrating - Sonia Maria Sotomayor

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I am celebrating Sonia Maria Sotomayor, who is an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.  She is the first Hispanic Justice and the third woman to serve on the court. (1)

President George H.W. Bush nominated Sotomayor to a seat on the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York on November 27, 1991. She was confirmed by unanimous consent of the full Senate on August 11th.(1)

President Bill Clinton nominated her to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. There were some objections from republicans and blocks put in place. However, she was confirmed on October 2, 1998, by a 67-29 vote within the Senate.(1)

President Barack Obama nominated her to the Supreme Court on May 26, 2009. On August 6th, 2009, she was confirmed by the Senate 68-31.

I think she brings an exceptional balance to the court because she has a much wider range of experiences than the other justices. 

1. Sonia Sotomayor - Wikipedia

Monday, September 15, 2025

Celebrating - José M. Hernández

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I would like to celebrate José M. Hernández, who is a Mexican-American Engineer and astronaut.  The other day, while scrolling on my social media, I came across a film clip from the movie A Million Miles Away, which was a film based on his 2012 Autobiography “Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut.” This clip prompted me to research José further.

It is incredible that he began as a migrant farm worker alongside his parents as a young child and worked his way up to become a mission specialist on STS-128, which was launched in August 2009. 

He also developed the first full-field digital Mammography imaging system with a commercial colleague while working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. 

He has earned many awards and honors, which can be found at the Wikipedia link below.

1. José M. Hernández - Wikipedia

Monday, September 08, 2025

Celebrating - Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez and their daughter Sylvia

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I am celebrating Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez, who changed California and set a legal precedent ending De Jure Segregation in the United States(1). In 1946, they tried to enroll their children in the majority white school near their home, and their kids were sent to a segregated school for Hispanic students. They filed a lawsuit, arguing that segregating children based on ethnicity was a violation of the 14th Amendment. They won their case and the appeal.  Governor Earl Warren then moved to desegregate all public schools and other public spaces. (1, 2)

Their daughter, Sylvia Mendez, received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2010 for her role in the struggle for Mexican-American Civil Rights

1. Felicitas Méndez - Wikipedia

2. Sylvia Mendez and the Struggle for Mexican American Civil Rights | National Archives Museum