CC – Item 4B – Request to Add and Proclaim the Month of April as Fair Housing Month and Donate Life Month to the Approved List of Proclamations For Year 2026ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BEN KIM, CITY MANAGER
DATE: MARCH 10, 2026
SUBJECT: REQUEST TO ADD AND PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF APRIL AS FAIR
HOUSING MONTH AND DONATE LIFE MONTH TO THE APPROVED
LIST OF PROCLAMATIONS FOR YEAR 2026
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The Fair Housing Foundation and OneLegacy have each requested that the Rosemead City
Council proclaim the month of April in recognition of their respective causes. The Fair Housing
Foundation is requesting a proclamation declaring April as Fair Housing Month, while
OneLegacy is requesting a proclamation declaring April as DMV/Donate Life Month.
April has been recognized as Fair Housing Month since the enactment of federal fair housing
legislation in 1968. Each year, national organizations promote awareness of equal housing
opportunities through various events and educational activities.
Additionally, April is observed as DMV/Donate Life Month. This nationwide effort raises
awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation and encourages individuals to register as donors
often when applying for or renewing a driver's license or identification card at their local
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
BACKGROUND
Proclamations are ceremonial documents to honor an individual or organization, celebrate or
create awareness or commemorate a particular day, month, or year. Proclamations are designated
by a specific event and date. On June 14, 2021, the City Council approved a new procedure to
issue any future proclamations:
Proclamations on the list of Approved Proclamations will be automatically agendized
under Presentations without City Council discussion.
New proclamation requests not listed on the approved list of proclamations will be
agendized for discussion and City Council direction. If approved, the new proclamation
AGENDA ITEM 4.11
City Council Meeting
March 10, 2026
Page 2 of 2
will be agendized and presented at the next City Council meeting and added to the
approved list of proclamations.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council approve the request to add the Fair Housing Month and Donate Life
Month Proclamations to the list of Approved Proclamations list for 2026 and schedule the
presentations to a subsequent City Council meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT
None
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process.
Prepared by:
Ericka Hernandez, City Clerk
Attachment A: Fair Housing Request Letter
Attachment B: Fair Housing Month Sample Proclamation
Attachment C: OneLegacy Request Email
Attachment D: DMV/Donate Life Month Sample Proclamation
Attachment A
Fair Housing Request Letter
FAIR HOUSING
FOUNDATION
February 3, 2026
Lily T. Valenzuela
City of Rosemead
a 8838 E. Valley Blvd.
Rosemead, CA 91770
Dear Lily T. Valenzuela,
Fair Housing Foundation
(800)446-3247
www.fhfca.org
Members Warm Regards,
Yvonne Flores
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Julien Willard
Zaal��a�orreds
Community Engagement Liaison
Enclosure
IM
3605 Long Beach Blvd. #302 a Long Beach, CA 90807 a (562) 989-1206 a Fax (562) 989-1836
1855 W. Katella Avenue #355 a Orange, CA 92867 9 (714) 918-8001 9 Fax (562) 989-1836
Fair Housing Foundation respectfully requests your consideration in
acknowledging April as Fair Housing Month. We hope you will join us in
celebrating this important occasion by presenting a proclamation from the City
Executive Director
Stella Vanponppal
of Rosemead to the Fair Housing Foundation.
For your convenience, we have included a sample proclamation for
Bowra of Directors
consideration. If our request is granted, a representative from the Fair Housing
Foundation can be available to accept the proclamation virtually, or at a
Chair
regularly scheduled City Council meeting. Alternatively, the proclamation can
Connie Haynes
be mailed to one of the addresses listed below.
Vice -Chair
Richard Hernandez
Secretary
If you have any questions, or need additional information, please feel free to
Julia Moore
contact me at 562-989-1206 xl 103 or via email at mtorresna.fhfca.org.
Treasurer
Ken Hastings
you ou for our time and consideration.
y
Members Warm Regards,
Yvonne Flores
Swtriz R'::dc
Julien Willard
Zaal��a�orreds
Community Engagement Liaison
Enclosure
IM
3605 Long Beach Blvd. #302 a Long Beach, CA 90807 a (562) 989-1206 a Fax (562) 989-1836
1855 W. Katella Avenue #355 a Orange, CA 92867 9 (714) 918-8001 9 Fax (562) 989-1836
Attachment B
Fair Housing Month Sample Proclamation
(SAMPLE)
PROCLAMATION
FAIR HOUSING MONTH
WHEREAS, one of the greatest freedoms enjoyed by Americans is the freedom to
live in a home of one's choice and;
WHEREAS, this promise made to us by the Nation's Fair Housing Law which
requires that all people be treated equally in connection with sale or rental of
housing, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, disability,
sexual orientation, marital status, age, familial status or religion;
WHEREAS, this year marks the 581h anniversary of the Federal Fair Housing Act,
the original legislation targeting the elimination of housing discrimination in
America, and;
WHEREAS, since the adoption of the fair housing legislation in April 1968, April
has been designated Fair Housing Month. Each year the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development and the Fair Housing Foundation organize events
and activities during this month to focus attention on the issue of equal opportunity
in housing, and;
WHEREAS, April is Fair Housing Month throughout the nation, we are asking
each resident of the City of to support efforts to put into practice the
principles of freedom, justice and equality upon which this great nation was
founded.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of on behalf of its citizens
does hereby proclaim April as Fair Housing Month on this day of April
2025.
(Signed by the City Council)
Attachment C
OneLegacy Request Email
Subject: FW: April Proclamation Request
From: Rachel Rodriguez
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 12:20 PM
To: Ericka Hernandez <ehernandez@rosemeadca.gov>
Subject: April Proclamation Request
My name is Rachel Rodriguez and I am the One Legacy Ambassador to the City of Rosemead.
Asa One Legacy Ambassador, I volunteer my time in educating the public about organ, eye and tissue
donation. I am contacting you today as the One Legacy Ambassador to your city because we are seeking
the city's support of Donate Life Month, April 2026. In addition to the city-wide Proclamation, there are
some other unique ways that you can help us get the word out, as you can see in the attached document
we've prepared for you.
My direct connection to organ donation is my grandbaby Malaikye. Malaikye was 16 months old when he
was sadly a victim of homicide in 2011. Maliakye was murdered by his mother's then boyfriend. My son
Daniel is Malaikye's father. In the darkness of my son's grief, he chose to think of others and he made the
decision to donate the baby's organs in the hopes of saving other children. Malaikye went on to save the
lives of 4 people. Their ages: 9 months, 2 years old, 21 years otd and 65 years old! It is in their stories that
we find "hope after tragedy". I chose to become an Ambassador to honor my grandson. I embrace the
platform given to me to share Malaikye's story. This March , Malaikye would have turned 15 years old.
Sadly, I cannot throw him a party or take him to Disneyland, but what I can do is continue my mission to
share of the beauty of organ donation. My grandson is yet another face to the ugliness of child abuse, but
more importantly he is yet another face to the beauty of organ donation. It is this reality that we have
found peace in this tragedy.
My request to you is this: Would the City of Rosemead be willing to participate in Donate Life Month this
year by helping us spread the word about organ, eye and tissue donation? I would Love to share
Malaikye's story at a City Council meeting if possible.
Attached you will see photos of our baby boy. Two of his recipients photos are attached as well.
Please feel free to contact me. I look forward to your response.
Thank you for your time,
Gratefully,
Rachel Rodriguez, OneLegacy Ambassador
Attachment D
DMV/Donate Life Month Sample Proclamation
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saving lives through organ, eye & tissue donation
DMV/Donate Life Month Proclamation
City of
April 2026
WHEREAS, organ, eye, tissue, marrow and blood donation are life-giving
acts recognized worldwide as expressions of compassion to those in need;
WHEREAS, more than 100,000 individuals nationwide and more than 21,000
in California are currently on the national organ transplant waiting list, and
on average, 17 people die each day while waiting;
WHEREAS, the need for donated organs is especially urgent in Hispanic,
Latino, and African American communities;
WHEREAS, a single individual's donation of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and small
intestine can save up to eight lives;
WHEREAS, donation of tissue can save and heal the lives of more than 75 others;
WHEREAS, organ donors saved more than 36,000 lives last year,
WHEREAS, any person can register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor regardless of age or
medical conditions;
WHEREAS, being a registered donor does not impact the quality of life-saving medical care a
person receives in an emergency;
WHEREAS, California residents can sign up with the Donate Life California Donor Registry online at
any time by visiting www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org or, for Spanish -speakers,
www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org
WHEREAS, California residents can sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor when applying for
or renewing their driver's licenses or ID cards at the California Department of Motor Vehicles;
WHEREAS, California residents interested in saving a life through living kidney donation may visit
www. LivingDonationCa liforn ia.org;
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