Roger Marshall: “On September 15, we began National Hispanic Heritage Month, one that celebrates the histories, cultures, and…”

“On September 15, we began National Hispanic Heritage Month, one that celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans of Hispanic descent. I recently learned the story of a former Kansas City resident, the late Hector Berretto, Sr., who served as a voice for his local Hispanic community. Hector founded the Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and, later, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, to counter disadvantages of Hispanic business owners in the Kansas City area and around the country. The Hispanic population in the United States contributes enormously to our country, both culturally and economically. Most of the Hispanic individuals I have had the pleasure of knowing, many of them patients of mine, have been remarkably dedicated to faith and family and preserving their own culture centered around faith and family. Many of my OB patients were Hispanic women, often accompanied by their loving mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and aunts concerned for the health of their family member and the baby. Every visit was a family event of great importance to the family. Now numbering over 55 million individuals, the Hispanic American population is projected to combine for an estimated buying power of $1.7 trillion in 2020. Hispanics are more likely than average Americans to open a business.…”