A coalition of Language Access organizations, Hablamos Español Florida, approached me for a Proclamation to recognize March 27th as the International Day of Multilingualism. We presented it at the March 21st BCC meeting.
To bridge the gap between Orange County services and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Persons and allow consistent service equity across all departments and divisions, I presented a Commissioner’s Report at the March 21st BCC Meeting. After discussion, the Board supported the initiative and will have it reviewed and researched by Orange County staff and will return to the Board in August.
Thank you, Marcos Vilar, and the Alianza team for Celebrating Women’s History Month. It was sweet of you to recognize my colleagues and me for our work in the community.
I want to thank UCF Puerto Rican Hub, UCF students, staff and volunteers for their amazing support to walk with us in the parade. I could not be happier to see so many cultures together like Mexico, El Salvador, Venezuela, Brazil, Cuba, Hawaiian and so much more!
Happy New Chinese Year (Year of the Rat). The rat symbolizes intelligence, being adaptable, and observant. Thank you, Ruben Saldana and his team from Ru Camp for your commitment to the youth.
The Holiday shoe drive “Krafts and Kicks” for Union Park, Winter Park, and Bithlo families was a success thanks to the donations that we received! I hope we all rejoice in the spirit of giving and making beautiful memories today. Merry Christmas from your Commissioner Emily Bonilla and District 5 staff!
We had SO much fun celebrating #HispanicHeritageMonth with you all at our second annual Fiesta Cultural. Special thank you to all the talented performers we had and my staff who surprised me with a beautiful cake for my birthday showcasing my Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage. We are looking forward to next year! Let us know in the comments what you would like to see at next year’s event.
I was so honored to be presented with an award for diversity and collaboration at this year’s African Heritage Month Gala. I make an effort to attend as many diverse events as I can, so this is truly a special award for me. I also had a wonderful time hosting this year’s AHM Gala! Special thanks to the African Leaders Council for all the work you put into making this event a success.
March is Women’s History Month. We are remembering women who have made history in the past and those that are still making history today. The Women Making History in Central Florida event will showcase four women who have and will continue making history. We hope that their stories will inspire you to impact Central Florida in your own way.
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and District 5 Commissioner Emily Bonilla along with Orange County employees, joined other Central Florida leaders and community organizations for “The Most Colorful Parade” around Lake Eola Park.