Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed Sept. 15 – Oct. 15 annually, is a celebration of the histories, cultures, and contributions of the Hispanic community. This year’s theme, “Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America,” honors the economic, political, and social contributions of this community. Whether from the corner office, through the arts, or in government, Hispanics are a driving force of innovation and growth in our country.

Despite undeniable positive influences on our culture, Hispanics still face many challenges in the workplace. According to a LinkedIn Survey, 60% of Latino professionals ages 18 – 34 report being denied career advancement because of their race. Additionally, 44% of Latino professionals report facing discrimination or microaggressions in the workplace.

Your association can honor Hispanic Heritage Month by providing members with educational opportunities to learn about Hispanic Heritage Month through different mediums. Additionally, to foster an inclusive organization, consider providing members with new professional development opportunities and concrete steps to improving leadership abilities and inclusivity within your association’s culture or your members’ companies.

Here are a few ways your association can recognize the cultures and contributions of the Hispanic community.  

Learn

• Check out the National Museum of American History’s virtual exhibit, “¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues,” which explores baseball’s crucial social and cultural force in Latino communities across the United States.
• Dive deeper into the history and significance of Hispanic Heritage Month with this article.
• Utilize professional resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, to assign and delegate coursework for your organization’s staff team to learn more about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a component of your association’s mission.

Listen

• Try a new podcast with Latino USA or TED en Español with multilingual subtitles.

Read

• Check out options on this list of Books to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage month

Watch

• Pick a film from the Oscar’s list of films to watch in celebration of Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month, or check out Netflix’s Celebrating Hispanic Heritage genre (account and login required).
• Practice or flex your Spanish while watching 26 Spanish-Language Shows on Netflix Begging to Be Binged.

Celebrate

• Participate in the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month Run wherever you are.

Support

• Shop Latine-owned businesses in your community.
• Donate to or check out volunteer opportunities at the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, Latinos Progresando (Chicago), Casa Central (Chicago), Nueva Vida (D.C), CentroNía (D.C.), or seek out an opportunity within your local community.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the vital accomplishments of Hispanics in America, and it is also a time to reflect on how associations can foster inclusivity and celebrate their Hispanic members – not only during this month, but year-round. 

For more resources about Hispanic Heritage Month, visit the Hispanic Heritage Month website.

Annie Davidson is in Corporate Marketing at Smithbucklin.