Under the leadership of President John F. Kennedy and his successor, President Lyndon B. Johnson, in recognition of the national plight of Hispanics regarding lack of opportunities in business, employment, education, health, and myriad other areas of social development, the US Congress passed a bill in 1964 calling for an annual celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Week (it was declared a month-long celebration in 1980).

In 1972, under President Richard M. Nixon’s 16-Point Program, now called the Hispanic Employment Program, a few Kansas City areas Hispanic federal employees, in coordination with the Greater Kansas City Federal Executive Board initiated annual activities to commemorate National Hispanic Heritage Week. The activities were held in various federal sector job sites. The Hispanic leaders eventually determined to extend the celebration into the metropolitan Hispanic community by organizing a parade from downtown Kansas City into downtown Armourdale, Kansas.