Soy puro mexicano nacido in este suelo en esta hermosa tierra que es mi linda nación.

All right.

Good morning, everyone, and thank you all for being here for what I call my annual Cinco de Mayo celebration where we come together to uplift and honor Chicano leaders and reclaim the significance of this holiday.

Cinco de Mayo has been traditionally been seen and confused as being Mexican Independence Day, but it's not.

Historically, what it is, it's a symbolic day that was born here in the United States to showcase the winning of the Battle of Puebla, which shows the resiliency of a very small Mexican army that beat a very well-funded French army.

So over the years of history, it has been turned into a very commercialized uh way to uh cater to the Mexican market.

But what we want to do is show that we're more than just that.

We're not just the consumers for some corporations to shoot for, but we really do contribute to the uh fabric of what is the American story, and that is why we are doing this today.

Today we brought together a diverse and dynamic group of honorees, Marcos Reynoso.

He is the owner to Chonsi Chorizo.

I just really want to serve really good food to my community and really good pricing so everybody can enjoy, not just the one person or the people that have money.

I want everybody to enjoy.

What he puts in the chorizo is something that actually you can't really find anywhere unless you go closer to the border or actually cross.

It's really important to celebrate Cinco de Mayo because you always need to remember where you come from, where your tradition is, who what to truly celebrate.

Congratulations.

Thank you for being part of helping us redefine Cinco de Mayo.

Daniel Duno Lopez.

He is a content creator, podcaster, and comedian comedian who proudly represents his Mexican heritage and echo park roots.

Today he's touring the country and selling out shows.

We are proud to celebrate his success and his voice.

I grew up down the street, literally on first in between tempo.

I grew up walking distance.

I used to walk through here.

I would have never in a hundred years thought that I'll be here.

Um I'm 26 years old, I'm living life, I'm amazed.

Thank you guys for supporting and shout out the city of Los Angeles.

I love you guys so much.

Thank you.

The Chicano movement here in Los Angeles is thriving.

It's probably the biggest and best it's ever been.

And uh there's areas that we could be in a little bit more, like in the in the movie industry.

We got the music unlocked, we got art on lock, we got food unlocked and um the only place I don't see us shining to our full potential in the movie industry.

He is an internationally celebrated photographer, director, and urban lifestyle or entrepreneur whose work has captured the essence of who we are.

I represent the city to the fullest, and take it with me on my back everywhere I go.

Thank you very much.

Can I have Dr.

Amada Armenta and Jose Loyac join me?

Dr.

Amal Armenta is an associate professor of urban planning at UCLA and the director of the Latino Policy and Politics Institute.

Mexican Americans and Chicanos have been part of LA before LA was even part of the United States.

And so we are leaders in every sector from art to entrepreneurship to academia to universities where I work.

Um our schools are full of amazing Mexican American students, leaders, Latinos, and of all groups.

We're gonna grow the Nika difference.

And Dr.

Jose Loya is, as I mentioned, assistant professor of urban planning at UCLA, whose research examines inequality in housing and home ownership, particularly within Latino communities.

The Latino culture is part of the American culture.

And so Latinos inspire, uh, integrate and and and often are mixing our culture with the American culture, and it's it's a beautiful thing to see and be a part of.

So more than 50% of the Los Angeles population identifies as being from immigration descent, many of them being Latinos and Chicanos.

So what I'm hoping to do is to emphasize that our stories are complex and they're beautiful and very much part of the American fabric, and it's here in Los Angeles where we set the tone to what that identity is.

The battleship Iowa is a remarkable feat of engineering, stretching nearly three football fields long and measuring a hundred and eight feet across.

Today, from its home in the port of Los Angeles, this historic vessel welcomes visitors from throughout Southern California, connecting new generations to stories that help shape our nation.

But the Iowa is more than a museum.

It has become a gathering place for the community, serving as a living link between Los Angeles maritime past and its vibrant future.

That spirit of connection was also on display as the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 100th anniversary by offering free harbor boat tours, giving Angelinos a rare opportunity to experience the nation's busiest port from the water, and see firsthand the scale of the waterfront that powers so much of the region's economy.

We're turning a hundred years old, and as part of that celebration, the Port of Los Angeles is very proud to be hosting free harbor boat tours to the general public.

Good morning.

Welcome.

I'm here for the Free Harbor Boat Tour from the Port of Los Angeles.

My favorite part about it is that they give us so much history.

The speaker on the boat tells us so much about the shipping terminals and about all the trade that goes on from different countries.