Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the U.S. from September 15 through October 15. It’s a great time to celebrate the many achievements of a diverse group of people who have helped shape our country. We at Labor Solutions would like to take a moment to give recognition to just a few of these history makers who helped to make Florida the great state it is today.
Homage to Hispanic Heritage
Here in Florida, we have a long history of Hispanic influence that we at Labor Solutions would like to pay tribute to. Our state was named by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon when he landed on what he thought was an island in 1513. Tallahassee was the site of North America’s first Christmas celebration when Hernando de Soto’s expedition camped in the area during the winter of 1539-40. The oldest continually-inhabited city established by European colonists is St. Augustine, which was founded in 1565 by Don Pedro Menendez de Avila of Spain. Spanish was the predominant language in Florida before English was.
Over the centuries, plenty more intrepid pioneers found themselves settling in sunny Florida to establish towns, businesses, and culture. Ybor City, for example, was founded in 1885 by Vicente Martinez Ybor and several other cigar manufacturers. Ybor learned about the cigar industry while living in Cuba as a young man, and brought that knowledge to Florida. Cuban and Spanish immigrants flocked to Ybor City’s cigar factories, simultaneously creating a unique atmosphere that blended elements of Spanish, Cuban, Italian, and Eastern European cultures. And while the iconic surrealist never lived in Florida, St. Petersburg is now home to an exceptional collection of artwork by famed Spanish artist Salvador Dalí at the Dalí Museum.
Celebrating Our Workforce
To this day, Hispanic culture continues to be a driving force in Florida. Labor Solutions is proud to support our employees and temp workers wherever they hail from. If you or someone you know has recently emigrated to our area and is struggling to find work, please let them know that we are here to help them get a job and establish themselves in their new home.
