Most months the Penn's Village Inclusiveness and Diversity Committee recommends several resources to help our members and friends to be more aware of the racial biases in each of us and in our society, and the resulting inequities, past and present. It is the committee’s hope that this information may even inspire us to make corrective changes. These resources assembled by Penn’s Village members represent different mediums, different perspectives and experiences, and diverse authors.
Penn’s Village welcomes and actively encourages an inclusive and diverse community of members, staff, Board of Directors and volunteers. Inclusiveness and diversity mean welcoming all and excluding no one because of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, physical abilities, religious beliefs or political beliefs.
At the very bottom of this page, blog readers have the opportunity to comment. The Inclusiveness and Diversity Committee welcomes your opinions about any of our suggested resources and any suggestions about their mission.
September, 2025 Hispanic Heritage Month
The Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2023, was 65.2 million, making it our country’s largest racial ethnic minority. Hispanics now are 19.5% of American residents. Philadelphia’s Hispanic population is 16 % of our residents and is our city’s fastest growing demographic.
Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 celebrates the contributions of Americans tracing their roots to Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean.
If You Have Time to Investigate Only One Entry in this Blog, this Is the One
To be introduced to 35 authentic, amazing Hispanic and Latino Philadelphians, watch this video Hispanic Voices by clicking here.
Some Ways to Observe Hispanic Heritage Month in Philadelphia
To view “A Guide to Latino and Hispanic Cultural and Historic Sites in Greater Philadelphia”, click here.
To discover 20+ ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in Philadelphia, click here.
To learn about interesting and unique Hispanic-owned businesses in Philadelphia, click here.
To Discover How Hispanic Heritage Month Will Be Celebrated at:
The Philadelphia Museum of Art, click here.
Temple University, click here.
Latino Restaurant Week October 12-18, click here.
The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino
The National Museum of the American Latino was created in 2020 by an act of Congress as part of the Smithsonian Institution. The act also established the Smithsonian National Women’s History Museum. The Latino Museum is yet to be built, but the Smithsonian hired its founding director, Jorge Zamanillo, in 2022 and established its Board of Trustees in 2021.
Until the museum is opened, the Smithsonian operates the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History, which is a 4,500-square-foot gallery that features temporary exhibitions and educational programs. The gallery’s first exhibition, “¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States," opened in 2022. To learn more about this museum, click here.
A New York Times Opinion Essay
Mr. David Holt is the mayor of Oklahoma City, the President of the United States Conference of Mayors, and a member of the Osage Indian Nation. On August 20, 2025, the New York Times published his essay entitled I’m A Red-State Mayor. Diversity Is Not Reverse Bigotry. To read his opinion click here.