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A RESOLUTION honoring the Cuban American Association of Kentucky. 1
WHEREAS, the Cuban American Association of Kentucky is led by grateful Cuban 2
Americans Berta Weyenberg (president), Luis David Fuentes (vice president), and board 3
members Orlando Grimany, Oscar Puig, María Teresa Rodríguez, Darien Barrios, Irina 4
Baptiste, Diego Leyva, and Dania Marzo Santiesteban; and 5
WHEREAS, the Cuban American Association of Kentucky is a nonprofit 6
organization formed to represent the Cuban American community in our Commonwealth; 7
and 8
WHEREAS, the mission of the Cuban American Association of Kentucky is to 9
educate and empower the growing Cuban community of Kentucky, promote self-10
sufficiency and a successful integration into the community, advocate for freedom and 11
democracy in Cuba, and defend and recognize the values of the United States of America, 12
the members' second home; and 13
WHEREAS, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Cuban American Association of 14
Kentucky was the first organization providing Spanish translation of the Governor’s daily 15
updates, reaching thousands of Spanish speaking-residents every day; and 16
WHEREAS, the Cuban American Association of Kentucky has organized and held 17
13 food drives serving families in distress, and in the last five years, the Association has 18
hosted multiple educational seminars for newly arrived refugees; and 19
WHEREAS, on February 11, 2023, over 80 Cuban health professionals participated 20
in a networking event to learn how to obtain professional credentials in the United States 21
and how to re-enter the medical field; and 22
WHEREAS, the Cuban American Association of Kentucky is advocating for an 23
employment authorization that would allow the new arrivals to work, which, in return, 24
will help with the shortage of workers, especially in the health and education fields; and 25
WHEREAS, currently, the Cuban American Association of Kentucky is actively 26
working with Kentucky Refugee Ministries and other local organizations facilitating the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1328
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community integration of the new Cuban Americans entering the Commonwealth; and 1
WHEREAS, the Cuban American Association of Kentucky regularly promotes 2
civic events at the bust of Jose Marti, who is often referred to as the "Apostle of Cuban 3
Independence." The bust is located at Shively Park in Jefferson County and was donated 4
in 1955 by the Cuban President Fulgencio Batista "as a tribute to the valiant Kentuckians 5
who fought for the liberation of Cuba"; and 6
WHEREAS, the ruling party in Cuba has deprived many residents of the freedom to 7
live a life absent of domestic strife and the threat of retaliation for vocal disagreement, 8
creating a system for prolonged relocation out of Cuba to the United States; and 9
WHEREAS, Kentucky has provided a safe and democratic environment that 10
empowers the Cuban community through freedoms of expression, education, and 11
economic opportunity; and 12
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Kentucky currently is home to a large Cuban 13
American community of over 45,000 proud Cubanos; and 14
WHEREAS, Cubans have chosen to settle in almost every major town in the 15
Commonwealth, from Paducah in the west to Covington in the northeast, and nearly 8 16
percent of Kentucky’s foreign-born population is from Cuba; and 17
WHEREAS, the Cuban community is most visible in Louisville’s Jefferson County, 18
which ranks 12th in the country when it comes to total Cuban population; and 19
WHEREAS, in 2022, the Senate adopted a Resolution expressing the condemnation 20
of any unjust practices and violations of human rights against the people of Cuba, and 21
their families, domestic and abroad; and 22
WHEREAS, that Resolution also expressed that the Kentucky Senate stands for 23
equality for all, and against any and all restrictions on free speech and related freedoms; 24
and 25
WHEREAS, the Kentucky State Senate recognizes the sacrifices, sadness, and loss 26
that come with leaving your homeland and families, but is extremely honored by those 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1328
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who have chosen the Commonwealth as the place in which to pursue their American 1
dream; 2
NOW, THEREFORE, 3
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 4
Kentucky: 5
Section 1. The members of the Senate hereby honor the Cuban American 6
Association of Kentucky and recognize the important work it does in supporting Cuban 7
American communities within the Commonwealth. 8
Section 2. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 9
Resolution to Senator Michael J. Nemes for presentation to the Cuban American 10
Association of Kentucky. 11