The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN RECOGNITION OF JOSE ``JOE'' ARCE AND THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF
KANSAS CITY'S HISPANIC NEWS
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HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER
of missouri
in the house of representatives
Friday, September 10, 2021
Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to rise today to recognize and celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Kansas City Hispanic News, a weekly bilingual newspaper published and owned by Jose ``Joe'' Arce, that has continuously served the Greater Kansas City community in Missouri's Fifth Congressional District. Since its creation, the Kansas City Hispanic News has helped bridge the gap with the Latino community by offering representation on a mainstream paper. Wholly devoted to establishing top quality media coverage via in-depth stories in both Spanish and English, Arce and his publication have made a monumental impact on the Latino community.
The Kansas City Hispanic News opened its door in 1996 along Southwest Boulevard, located in Kansas City's Westside neighborhood, a community heavily influenced by Latino and Mexican American roots. Through investigative reporting and providing community members with stories in two languages, the weekly newspaper has increased its coverage to extend beyond the state line into Kansas, showing the impact on Latino households. With this newspaper, Arce has provided a platform for Latinos to be represented, informed, and engaged as local businessowners through advertising opportunities, giving the Latino community a place to flourish and thrive.
Born and raised in Kansas City's West Side, Arce always felt in touch with his Mexican roots and Latino background. Before he started the bilingual newspaper, he worked as a photojournalist and reporter for WDAF-TV Fox 4 News, dedicating himself to serving the people in his community through journalism. After years of experience, Arce realized the lack of representation and reporting catered to the Latino population and took it upon himself to start a paper that could inform and celebrate the accomplishments of the Latino community. As an involved civic leader, Arce used the bilingual paper as a vehicle of information on important topics that affected Latinos such as elections, workers' rights, local businesses, and celebrations. His efforts allowed people to feel connected to not only their roots but to their local community and offered access to information for those who were only Spanish speakers.
While the Kansas City Hispanic News is one of his most influential additions to the Fifth District, Arce's contributions extend beyond journalism. As an active civic leader, Arce has served on boards for numerous organizations such as the Guadalupe Centers and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City. Additionally, Arce was one of the key figures in the distinguished victory of renaming 23rd Street in the Westside Neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri to Avenida Cesar Chavez after activist Cesar Chavez in 1993. To increase representation and local celebrations related to Latino and Mexican American traditions, Arce helped expand Fiesta Hispana KC, an annual festival held in Kansas City to celebrate Mexico's Independence Day as well as Hispanic Heritage Month.
Through this festival, community members have been able to partake in the celebration that brings music, food, dance, and local businesses, further connecting the Latino community as well as providing others to learn more about Latino culture. Arce is known to be a friend, mentor, and a loyal supporter of youth journalists. To help Latino students pursuing journalism, Arce founded the Hispanic Media Association, which provides scholarships. Furthermore, Arce served as the chair of the Cesar E. Chavez committee at the University of Central Missouri for 15 years where he focused on finding ways to attract Latino students to the campus. Arce's unwavering devotion and tireless commitment to serve and better the Latino community is a testament of his compassionate and caring nature.
Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing and thanking Joe Arce and the Kansas City's Hispanic News for all they have done for Kansas City and Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in the last twenty-
five years. I am honored to have someone like Arce, a champion of public service and civic leader, in Missouri's Fifth Congressional District which I represent. His immense impact on the Latino community and Kansas City will continue to be felt for years to come. Let us celebrate Joe Arce's job well done and wish him many more years of success.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 156
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