IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION recognizing the Guadalupe Centers for their exceptional contributions to the Hispanic Community in Jackson County.
Intro
RESOLUTION NO. 21428, October 9, 2023
INTRODUCED BY Manuel Abarca IV, DaRon McGee, Jalen Anderson, Donna Peyton, Venessa Huskey, and Jeanie Lauer, County Legislators
Body
WHEREAS, during the early 1900s, in exodus of the hardships caused by the Mexican Revolution, many Mexican nationals began to leave their homeland in pursuit of a better life for both them and their families; and,
WHEREAS, Mexican immigrants followed jobs to the north in areas of migrant farming, railroad, and livestock; and,
WHEREAS, Mexican immigrants decided to settle in the Westside community of Kansas City, Missouri; and,
WHEREAS, upon their arrival, Mexican immigrants faced discrimination in schools, work, hospitals, government agencies, and businesses; and,
WHEREAS, the need for basic services within the Mexican community continued to grow; and,
WHEREAS, to answer this growing need, a Catholic women's club in 1919 decided to establish a volunteer school and clinic for the underprivileged Mexican immigrants who had settled in the Westside; and,
WHEREAS, the volunteer school and clinic were named Guadalupe Centers, after the patron saint of Mexico; and,
WHEREAS, the Guadalupe Centers became of the nation's first social service agencies for Latinos; and,
WHEREAS, the Guadalupe Centers have exhibited strong commitment to social justice, equality, and the overall improvement of the quality of life for the Hispanic community by addressing pressings issues, including healthcare disparities, economic disparities, and educational disparities; and,
WHEREAS, the Guadalupe Centers Preschool, Guadalupe Centers Elementary School, Guadalupe Centers Middle School, and Guadalapue Centers High School have helped children, teens and families thrive throughout the years; and,
WHEREAS, the ...
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