Old North News

Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed September 15 – October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month to honor and celebrate the history, culture and achievements of the Hispanic, Latino, Latinx and Latine communities across North Carolina. This year’s theme is Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America. 

“Diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and our Hispanic and Latino communities make North Carolina a more vibrant place for all,” said Governor Cooper. “We must continue to work toward solutions that make sure opportunities are there for everyone.”

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated between September 15 – October 15 when seven Latin American countries celebrate their independence days.

Governor Cooper is committed to uplifting and supporting the inclusion and equitable access of resources for our diverse Hispanic, Latino, Latinx, and Latiné communities, which represent an important and growing demographic in North Carolina. In 2017, Governor Cooper signed Executive Order No. 23, establishing the Governor’s Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs to advise the Governor on issues related to the Hispanic, Latino, Latinx, Latine population and how North Carolina can better support these communities.

In December 2019, the Governor created the DRIVE Task Force to recruit more teachers of color, improve equity and increase diversity among the educator workforce.

In January 2021, the DRIVE Task Force released its recommendations and reports to increase teacher diversity, which have been reflected in the Governor’s proposed budgets, including increasing teacher compensation, expanding teaching fellows and providing support for educators of color to complete their National Board Teaching Certification.

In June 2023, based on a recommendation of the DRIVE Task Force, Governor Cooper allocated $3 million in GEER funding to reimburse teaching licensing exam fees, an identified barrier for educators of color to enter the profession.

Reestablished under Executive Order No. 268, the Andrea Harris Equity Task Force has been reconstituted to further the economic development of disadvantaged communities, improve health and wellness outcomes in underserved communities and advance equitable and inclusive practices within state agencies.

Governor Cooper’s administration is committed to ensuring that Spanish-speaking communities have access to information across state government agencies with translators and language access plans.

Original source can be found here.