I am pleased to recognize September 15 to October 15 as National Hispanic Heritage month at the Peace Corps. Hispanic Americans represent a wide range of nationalities and backgrounds. Reflecting on that remarkable diversity, September 15 was chosen as the starting date for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

Let us take special pride in our unique and vibrant history as we reflect on our nation’s rich Hispanic heritage and the thousands of Hispanic Americans who have served as Peace Corps Volunteers since 1961.

The past year has seen the creation of an employee resource group at the Peace Corps founded by employees and dedicated to advancing and celebrating Hispanic Americans and their heritage. The mission of the Hispanic Association for Leadership and Opportunity (HALO) is to serve the agency as a resource on Hispanic initiatives and issues by facilitating mentoring opportunities, promoting leadership and professional development activities for Hispanics, and empowering members to make significant contributions to the mission of the Peace Corps.

As we celebrate Hispanic American accomplishments, I encourage you to participate in the activities we will have here at the Peace Corps and in your own communities.