Join hundreds of city residents including local celebrities, business and community leaders will join Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for the opening ceremonies of the city’s Latino Heritage Month on Friday, September 4, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at City Hall, 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA, 90012.

The event, themed “Embracing our roots: The tapestry that built Los Angeles,” and sponsored by the Walt Disney Company, will kick off to the kaleidoscopic sounds of samba music and dance.

Latino Heritage Month will honor the contributions of three outstanding Latinos including: Jaime Escalante, a renowned professor and teacher of mathematics; Jimmy Smits, an accomplished actor and founder of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, and Grammy-award winner Sheila E., -- who will perform during the opening ceremonies. Latino Heritage Month celebrates the richness of Latino cultures, musical traditions and contributions to the American experience.