2025 -- H 5808

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LC002233

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

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

famous Dominican leader Orlando Martinez. Mr. Mendoza was raised in San Juan de la Maguana

in the Barrio Los Minas, Santo Domingo. According to Mr. Mendoza, this is the place where he

learned about psychology, and the importance of survival and having empathy for others; and

     WHEREAS, Victor Mendoza came to the United States alone in 1969 at the age of 20,

living in New York for more than a year before he moved to Providence, where he worked

tirelessly at multiple jobs in numerous factories as he aspired to live the American dream of

having a nice, middle class life. Mr. Mendoza later enrolled in a training program at OIC of

Rhode Island, and after graduation, was hired by Michael Van Leesten to be the first Latino

Employment Counselor; and

     WHEREAS, Victor Mendoza later attended New Hampshire College, where he graduated

with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services. At the same time, Mr. Mendoza became involved in

community organizing and eventually founded and co-founded four important community

organizations that made a positive difference in the lives of many in the Hispanic community in

Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, The organizations Mr. Mendoza founded or co-founded included The

Coalition of Hispanic Organizations of Rhode Island in 1978; The Hispanic Cultural Arts

Committee of Rhode Island in 1976, which directed the Latin American Festival of Music at the

Roger Williams Park Temple to Music, and was the first Latino festival in Rhode Island that

presented recognized Latin artists from different Latin American Countries; the Hispanic Political

Action Committee of Rhode Island, co-founded by the Reverend Juan Francisco, Jr., the first

Latino to run for State Representative in Rhode Island; and the State Latin American Arts

Exhibition at the State Atrium; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

thanks Victor M. Mendoza for his more than forty years of distinguished public service on behalf

of the Hispanic community in Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Victor M. Mendoza.

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