National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 to October 15 to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Today, we proudly feature Mayor Erik J. Arroyo, the City of Sarasota's first Hispanic Mayor, pictured here with his two-year-old daughter, Ava.
Mayor Arroyo grew up in the Dominican Republic with no running hot water or air-conditioning and frequent power outages due to rationing. "But I wouldn't trade it for anything," he shares. "It was great growing up with my grandfather and great-grandmother. I have some very fond memories."
The Mayor had the opportunity to learn a lot from his elders, staying with family and family friends while his mother pursued citizenship in the United States. After his mother gained citizenship, they moved to the United States together to start a new life.
"I had hit the lottery coming here. This is the land of opportunity where everything is possible, and anyone can achieve the American dream. So, I was the first to graduate high school in my family, became a lawyer, married the love of my life, became a father, and am now the Mayor of the most awesome city there is. God Bless America."
Now that he is raising a child of his own, with another on the way, he marvels at his mother's strength, resilience, and constant pursuit of better opportunities for her children. "My wife and I both work full-time, my mom is a huge help, and it's still tough raising a child. So sometimes, when I talk to my mom, I ask, how did you DO this all by yourself? My dad's never really been in the picture, so my mom had to be strong and depend on family and lifelong friends who we are still close with to this day."
As in many Hispanic cultures, the importance of family holds significant value. "My mother taught me, 'Family is always first,' which has stuck with me. Family will always be there to help you up, and there should be no embarrassment when dealing with family because they're always going to be there for you – the one constant."
Having grown up with a multi-generational influence, the Mayor appreciates the bond his mother now has with his daughter, spending quality time with her while he and his wife work and sharing family dinner together every Thursday Night. "I can cook, but nobody's cooking is quite as good as mom's cooking."
#Sarasota #SarasotaFlorida #CityofSarasota #HispanicHeritageMonth
Original source can be found here
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