Hispanic Heritage Foundation to recognize 'the people of Minnesota' in 39th annual awards

Hispanic Heritage Month officially begins next Tuesday. Congress established the month in 1988 to celebrate Latino history, identity and culture in the U.S. Since then, it’s kicked off with an award ceremony in Washington, D.C.

This year, the Hispanic Heritage Awards are leaving D.C. for the first time and coming to Minneapolis. During Thursday’s ceremony at Orchestra Hall, the people of Minnesota will receive a humanitarian award for resistance to Operation Metro Surge.

Other honorees include singer-songwriters Mon Laferte and Ximena Sariñana, musician Oscar D’León, rapper Eladio Carrión and Democratic U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas. Past award winners Los Tigres del Norte, a regional Mexican band, will perform at the event, which will be hosted by comedian Anjela Johnson Reyes.

Hispanic Heritage Foundation President and CEO Jose Antonio Tijerno joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the honorees and the significance of this year’s awards.