Gov. Maura Healey, joined by Lieutenant Gov. Kim Driscoll and members of her administration, on Friday addressed a Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month celebration at the State House, praising the state’s Latino community and citing recent administration steps to increase representation and investments.

"The Latino community in Massachusetts, I want you to know that you are valued, you are loved, you are seen, you are respected," Gov. Maura Healey said, telling the audience the administration views Latino leaders as integral to the state's future.

The remarks came at an event organized by the Latino Empowerment Council, whose chair Josiane Martinez opened the program and welcomed attendees to the People’s House. Martinez introduced the program and thanked the Healey–Driscoll administration for its partnership.

Healey said the administration has advanced investments in childcare, education, housing, small business and transportation and highlighted efforts to appoint Latino leaders across state government. She named Pedro Martinez as the person the administration has hired "to run our Department of Elementary and Secondary Education," and described Latino business and population growth in Massachusetts as evidence of the community’s economic importance. "Latinos are the fastest growing population in Massachusetts, representing 84% of our state's growth over the past decade alone," she said, adding that Latino business ownership has grown "by 23% in Massachusetts over the last 2 years."

The governor also criticized federal immigration enforcement actions she described as causing hardship for families and businesses. "It is so disheartening and hurtful and cruel to see people separated from their loved ones," Healey said, and said fear of enforcement had contributed to reduced economic activity in some communities.

Lieutenant Gov. Kim Driscoll, who spoke after Healey, echoed the call to celebrate resilience and to continue operationalizing policy recommendations from the Latino Empowerment Council. "We see everyone, we value everyone, and we know that we are better for being a state that lifts up and empowers everyone," Driscoll said.

The program included musical performances, including a 12-year-old singer from Wakefield identified by the governor as Kiana. Attendees included members of the Healey administration and several state legislators acknowledged from the podium, who were listed by the governor as Rep. Vargas, Sen. Eldridge, Sen. Gomez, Sen. Payano and Rep. Badger. Secretary for Veterans' Services John Santiago and a Labor and Workforce Development official identified in the remarks as Secretary Jones were also present.

The event combined ceremonial recognitions and policy messaging; no formal votes or actions were recorded during the program. Organizers and speakers encouraged continued community engagement and noted the council’s role in advising the administration on implementation of programs affecting Latino residents.

The ceremony concluded with additional performances and presentation of citations to community members and groups.