National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates and recognizes the contributions Hispanic-Americans have made to improve society in America. This month Pryor Cashman celebrates the accomplishments and contributions of those men and women in the legal industry - from the first Latina Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to Anthony Lee (Tony) Coelho, the first Hispanic-American majority whip in the U.S. House of Representatives, sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

For more information, we recommend reading the American Bar Association Diversity and Inclusion Center's report entitled: Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month Honoring Activists and Legal Trailblazers.

We look forward to engaging with you on diverse and inclusive celebrations throughout the calendar year. Please stay tuned for more reports from the Pryor Cashman Diversity Committee.

The History and Significance of Hispanic Heritage Month:

The accomplishments of Hispanic immigrants and those of Hispanic descent were first formally celebrated in 1968 when President Lyndon Johnson established a national observance of Hispanic Heritage. President Ronald Reagan expanded the observance, creating the official national Hispanic Heritage Month in 1988. The 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15 is significant because it includes the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Chile.

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