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Mes de la Herencia Hispana Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
West Park we are excited to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15). During this time, we call for all residents to recognize the contributions made and the important presence of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States and celebrate their heritage and culture. This year’s theme is, “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.”
Hispanics have had a profound and positive influence on our country, state and the
City of West Park through their strong commitment to family, faith, hard work, and
service. They have enhanced and shaped our national character with centuries-old
traditions that reflect the multiethnic and multicultural customs of their
community.
Hispanic Heritage Month, whose roots go back to 1968, begins each year on
September 15, the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries:
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and
Belize also celebrate their independence days during this period and Columbus Day
(Día de la Raza) is October 12. The term Hispanic or Latino, refers to Puerto Rican,
South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race. On
the 2010 Census form, people of Spanish, Hispanic and/or Latino origin could
identify themselves as Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, Cuban,
or “another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.”
I am happy to join in this celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month to
remember the vast accomplishments of the Hispanic community. We honor the
dedication of Hispanics for making important economic, social, and political
contributions.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Make Yourself Breast Aware!
“When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless.
But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and
accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to
make things better.” – Maya Angelou
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in women. The theme for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October 2024 is “No one should face breast cancer alone”. This theme encourages people to take an active role in their health journey and emphasizes the importance of community and support during the breast cancer fundraiser process.
The number of people being diagnosed with breast cancer is increasing, but the good news is survival rates are improving. This is probably because of more targeted treatments, earlier detection and better breast awareness. The biggest risk factor, after gender, is increasing age – 80% of breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50.
Breast cancer also affects men, but it’s rare – around 300 men are diagnosed each
year. Breast cancer is not one single disease there are several types of breast cancer. Not
all breast cancers show as a lump, and not all breast lumps are breast cancer. Less than
10% of breast cancer runs in families, so having someone in your family with breast cancer
doesn’t necessarily mean your own risk is increased.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month provides us with 31 crucial days to raise awareness and
reduce the stigma of breast cancer through education on symptoms and treatment. It is
also an opportunity to remind women to be ‘breast aware ’for earlier detection. It is my
hope that greater knowledge will lead to earlier detection of breast cancer, which is
associated with higher long-term survival rates, and that money raised for breast cancer
will produce a reliable, permanent cure.
So this October I am asking residents of West Park to be ‘breast aware’. Being ‘breast
aware’ means getting to know your breasts; how they look and what they normally feel
like. Until the threat of breast cancer is removed then self-examination remains the key
to early detection.
Breast cancers produce few warning signs and hardly ever cause pain. Beyond a vague
discomfort, often the first thing people notice is an abnormal lump in their breast. There
are other possible signs: know them, look for them – and don’t take chances.
There are five easy-to-remember steps:
1. Know what is normal for you.
2. Know the changes to look and feel for.
3. Look and feel.
4. Report any changes to your doctor without delay.
5. Attend regular breast screenings.
A pink ribbon is a symbol of breast cancer awareness. It may be worn to honor those who
have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The pink ribbon is associated with individual
generosity, faith in scientific progress, and a “can-do” attitude. It encourages us to focus
on the emotionally appealing ultimate vision of a cure for breast cancer, rather than on
the fraught path between current knowledge and any future cures.
Join us as we “Paint the City Pink” at our October 16, 2024 City Commission
Meeting at 7:00pm. We will honor our breast cancer survivors by wearing pink.
Recognize, Report and Prevent Domestic Violence!
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The 2024 theme is Heal, Hold & Center. As we heal, hold, and center survivors, especially those navigating anti-Blackness and other systems of oppression, we remain grounded in the knowledge that there is no survivor justice without racial justice.
Fact: An act of domestic abuse occurs every 12 seconds in the U.S. Too many
American women live in fear of the very people upon whom they depend for love
and affection. Instead of providing refuge, the walls of many homes serve as prison
bars
WHAT IS DOMESTIC ABUSE?
Domestic abuse, or “battering”, is a pattern of abuse by one partner against the
other, for the purpose of maintaining power and control. Domestic abuse often
includes (but NOT ALWAYS) physical abuse. Forms of domestic abuse can include:
Physical battering: The abuser’s attacks or aggressive behavior can range from
bruising to murder. It often begins with what is excused as trivial contacts which
escalate into more frequent and serious attacks (this can include the abuse of
household pets).
Sexual abuse: Physical attack by the abuser is often accompanied by, or culminates
in, sexual abuse where the woman is forced to have sexual intercourse with her
abuser, or to engage in unwanted sexual activity.
Psychological battering: The abuser’s psychological or mental abuse can include
constant verbal abuse, harassment, excessive possessiveness, fault-finding,
isolating the woman from friends and family, deprivation of physical and economic
resources, and destruction of personal property.
SOME FACTS ABOUT DOMESTIC ABUSE:
Adult domestic violence is one of the most serious public health and criminal justice
issues facing women today. Most victims of domestic violence are women.
Between 91-95% of all documented domestic violence cases are women being
abused by male partners. About 1-2% is physical abuse of men by their female
partners, and 3-8% of the total number of reported domestic violence cases
involves same-sex relationship abuse.
Every woman is at risk for becoming a victim of domestic violence. Domestic
violence has no regard for socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, religion,
employment status, physical ableness, age, education, marital status, or sexual
orientation. In fact, being FEMALE is the only significant risk factor for being a victim
of domestic violence.
Children in families where there is domestic violence suffer negative consequences
even if they are not the targets of the abuse. Children who witness their mothers
being abused by their fathers(or vice versa) often exhibit health problems, sleeping
difficulties, acting-out behaviors, and feelings of guilt, anger, fear and
powerlessness. In addition, research suggests that boys who witness their mothers
being abused often grow up to be abusers themselves, thereby continuing the cycle
of domestic violence. Even though the vast majority of victims of domestic violence
are women, males are becoming increasingly the victims of domestic violence. The
U.S. Department of Justice indicates that women are twice as likely to be murdered
by their domestic partners as men.
SOME MYTHS ABOUT DOMESTIC ABUSE:
MYTH: When someone is battered, he/she must have done something to deserve
it.
FACT: Battering is never the victim’s fault. NEVER. Batterers abuse their partners
as a way to control them. Domestic violence is about control, not about punishment
or discipline.
MYTH: Battering usually ends after a couple gets married or has children.
FACT: Battering usually gets WORSE over time, not better. Getting married and/or
having children does not protect someone from becoming a victim. In fact,
sometimes it makes the situation worse.
MYTH: Alcohol and other drug use may cause battering.
FACT: Most people who use alcohol or other drugs do not abuse their partners. And
many people who never use alcohol or other drugs do abuse their partners. While
it is true that perpetrators of domestic violence are sometimes under the influence
of alcohol or other drugs when the episode occurs, battering and alcohol or other
drug abuse are two separate problems – neither is caused by the other. Anyone
who abuses another person while under the influence of alcohol or another drug
needs help for BOTH problems.
ARE YOU IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP? Think about how you are being treated
and how you treat your partner. Remember, when one person scares, hurts, or
continually puts down the other, it is abuse. Talk to someone. Without some help,
the abuse will continue.
Remember to contact me at City Hall with your ideas, suggestions or concerns. I represent you and appreciate your input into the continued success of our beloved city. I can be reached at (954) 329-8990 or by email at: fbrunson@cityofwestpark.org
