Hispanic-latin-HERITAGE

A GUIDE FOR NEW IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA

The Immigrant Experience :
A LATIN HERITAGE CELEBRATION

In September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week. The observance was expanded in 1988 to a month long celebration (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15). America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean. In observance of hispanic heritage we celebrate the heroes that have brought pride to the latin community.

Dr. Ellen Ochoa,Astronaut. Selected by NASA in 1990, Ochoa became the world's first Hispanic female astronaut in 1991. A mission specialist and flight engineer, Ochoa is a veteran of four space flights, logging more than 950 hours in space. Her technical assignments have included flight software and computer hardware development and robotics development, testing, and training. She has served as Assistant for Space Station to the Chief of the Astronaut Office, lead spacecraft communicator in Mission Control and Acting Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office. She currently serves as Director of Flight Crew Operations at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
Ochoa's numerous awards include NASA's Exceptional Service Medal (1997), Outstanding Leadership Medal (1995) and Space Flight Medals (2002, 1999, 1994, 1993). Besides being an astronaut, researcher, and engineer, Ochoa is a classical flutist.
Jennifer Lopez is an accomplished singer, actress, songwriter, dancer, fashion designer.She owns a clothing line, JLO by Jennifer Lopez, a jewelry line, has created her special fragrance "Glow by J.Lo" , is owner of Madre's an elegant Cuban restaurant in Pasadena, California and is a spokesperson for Lux shampoo in Japan.The daughter of immigrants,Jennifer credits her success to her parents David Lopez, and mother, Guadalupe Rodriguez who she says instilled her with the work ethics that have contributed to her success.

Ricky Martin
Pop singer. Born Enrique Jose Martin Morales IV, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Grammy Award and Latin Grammy Award-winner Martin He has sold almost 34 million albums around the world, charting twenty one top-ten hits on the U.S.

Carlos Santana
Guitarist. Born in Autlán de Navarro, Mexico. His father, Jose, was an accomplished professional violinist, and Carlos learned to play the guitar at age 8.He is described as a Grammy Award-winning American Latin rock musician and guitarist.

Salma Hayek
Actress, director, producer. Born in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico. Hayek is the daughter of a Spanish mother and Lebanese father. Emmy-winner and Oscar nominee Salma Hayek is executive producer of the hit television series Ugly Betty which is based on the Colombian telenovela "Yo Soy Betty La Fea." The show won a Golden Globe for Best Comedy in 2007.Hayek's charitable work includes increasing awareness on violence against women and discrimination against immigrants.

Shakira Singer, songwriter. Born Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll in Barranquilla, Colombia to a Lebanese father and Colombian mother. She honors her Latino and Arabic heritage in her music. She received the Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album for Fijación Oral, Vol. 1, her second time winning such an honor. Previously, she had won a Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album for 2000's Shakira: MTV Unplugged.

Gloria Estefan Singer. Born Gloria Fajardo , in Havana, Cuba. A five-time Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter,Gloria began her career as lead vocalist for the Hispanic dance music band, Miami Sound Machine, in 1975.Known as the “Queen of Latin Pop”, Estefan is one of the world’s most recognized popular music artists. With over 90 million albums sold worldwide, she is the single most successful crossover performer in Latin music history. She is one of the Best selling music artists of all time.
Emilio Estefan:Music producer and songwriter.
Born in Havana, Cuba. Estefan moved to the United States as a teenager. Estefan has been nominated for 28 Grammy Awards, winning the honor 14 times. Having been instrumental in the success of the Miami Sound Machine and his wife's career, the Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter has lent his talents to other Latino superstars, such as Marc Antony, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin. Through Estefan Entreprises, he has built an entertainment empire. He is considered one of the most influential Hispanics in the U.S. by Hispanic Business magazine.

Benicio Del Toro :Academy Award-winning Puerto Rican actor and film producer.Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico. In 2001, del Toro became the fourth Oscar winner whose winning role was a character who speaks predominantly in a foreign language (most of del Toro's dialogue is in Spanish). He is the third Puerto Rican actor to win an Oscar.

Penelope Cruz , is a Golden Globe- and Academy Award-nominated Spanish actress. In 2006, Cruz won Best Actress (an award she shared with her female costars) at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in Volver, a Spanish film by acclaimed director Pedro Almodovar.

Grammy Winner Christina Aguilera-is an American pop singer and songwriter.
Aguilera first emphasized her Latin heritage by releasing her first Spanish album, Mi Reflejo on September 12, 2000 which in 2001won her a Latin Grammy Award for "Best Female Pop Vocal Album".

Roberto Velazquez Alomar Baseball player. American League Gold Glove Award most valuable player at the 1992 American League Championship Series against the Oakland Athletics.
Nancy Lopez
Athlete, professional golfer.Winner of 2003 Billie Jean King Contribution Award.First woman to receive the Frances Ouimet Award for Lifelong Contributions to Golf.
Chi Chi Rodriguez Athlete, professional golfer. Since 1985, he has 22 wins on the tour.Spends much of his time doing charity work, especially for the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation, an organization that helps children improve their lives through the game of golf.
Oscar De La Hoya Boxer. At age 15, De La Hoya won the national Junior Olympic 119-pound title; he took home the 125-pound title the next year. In 1990, he won the national Golden Gloves title in the 125-pound division and was the youngest U.S. boxer at that year's Goodwill Games, winning a gold medal. With a victory in the U.S. Amateur Boxing tournament (132 pounds), De La Hoya was named Boxer of the Year by USA Boxing.
Sammy Sosa Athlete, professional baseball player. During his career, he has been selected as a member of the National League All-Star team seven times. Sosa has scored 588 home runs and has a career batting average of .274.
Juan Gonzalez Athlete, professional baseball player. He played his first full season in 1991, scoring 27 home runs and 102 runs batted in (RBIs).
While out of the major leagues, Gonzalez still plays the game he loves. In 2006, he reached a deal to play for the Long Island Ducks, a minor league team.
Jorge Posada Athlete, professional baseball player. While attending Colegio Alejandrino High School, he was named a baseball all-star for the 1988-1989 season. In 2000, he received the Thurman Munson Award for his professional accomplishments and charity work. That same year, he and his wife, Laura, established the Jorge Posada Foundation, which helps children with craniosynostosis, a birth defect that affects skull growth.

Sources: www.bio.com www.wikepedia.com, free encyclopedia, www.peolple.com
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