2025 -- H 5808
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LC002233
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
THANKING VICTOR M. MENDOZA FOR HIS MORE THAN FORTY YEARS OF
DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE ON BEHALF OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN
RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Batista, Felix, Chippendale, Shekarchi,
Blazejewski, Santucci, Slater, Kennedy, and Ajello
Date Introduced: February 27, 2025
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, Victor M. Mendoza was born in Las Matas de Farfan, the birthplace of the 1
famous Dominican leader Orlando Martinez. Mr. Mendoza was raised in San Juan de la Maguana 2
in the Barrio Los Minas, Santo Domingo. According to Mr. Mendoza, this is the place where he 3
learned about psychology, and the importance of survival and having empathy for others; and 4
WHEREAS, Victor Mendoza came to the United States alone in 1969 at the age of 20, 5
living in New York for more than a year before he moved to Providence, where he worked 6
tirelessly at multiple jobs in numerous factories as he aspired to live the American dream of 7
having a nice, middle class life. Mr. Mendoza later enrolled in a training program at OIC of 8
Rhode Island, and after graduation, was hired by Michael Van Leesten to be the first Latino 9
Employment Counselor; and 10
WHEREAS, Victor Mendoza later attended New Hampshire College, where he graduated 11
with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services. At the same time, Mr. Mendoza became involved in 12
community organizing and eventually founded and co-founded four important community 13
organizations that made a positive difference in the lives of many in the Hispanic community in 14
Rhode Island; and 15
WHEREAS, The organizations Mr. Mendoza founded or co-founded included The 16
Coalition of Hispanic Organizations of Rhode Island in 1978; The Hispanic Cultural Arts 17
Committee of Rhode Island in 1976, which directed the Latin American Festival of Music at the 18
Roger Williams Park Temple to Music, and was the first Latino festival in Rhode Island that 19
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presented recognized Latin artists from different Latin American Countries; the Hispanic Political 1
Action Committee of Rhode Island, co-founded by the Reverend Juan Francisco, Jr., the first 2
Latino to run for State Representative in Rhode Island; and the State Latin American Arts 3
Exhibition at the State Atrium; now, therefore be it 4
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 5
thanks Victor M. Mendoza for his more than forty years of distinguished public service on behalf 6
of the Hispanic community in Rhode Island; and be it further 7
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 8
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Victor M. Mendoza. 9
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LC002233
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