El Grito at Hernandez Middle School

The Board and members of the Hernandez family visited the Irene C. Hernandez Middle School to celebrate El Grito for Mexican Independence Day. The students of ICH and other nearby schools highlighted their cultural heritage with captivating musical and dance performances.

Board member, Diane (Irene’s daughter), had the opportunity to speak with the school community. Diane emphasized the importance of giving back to the community and highlighted the advantages of being bilingual, particularly the power of speaking Spanish. She encouraged students to embrace their language skills as a valuable asset. Being bilingual opened many doors for Irene. Diane also discussed how Irene became a Commissioner and how she focused on helping the Latino community in any way she could. Irene was the only Latina elected official at the time, so many people relied on her for assistance. 

Irene was also sworn in as commissioner on Mexican Independence Day, which we were able to celebrate. It was a great day where we were able to celebrate our culture and share more about Irene and her legacy.