It’s time to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month!

September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic American Heritage Month! Here’s how you can celebrate with the rest of the organization. 

⚠️ Pyn note to HR: Update this message to reflect any available events or ERGs.

What is National Hispanic Heritage Month? 

Every year, people in the US observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15. The purpose of this month is to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of the U.S. Hispanic and Latino/Latinx communities. 

The observation was first introduced by California Congressman George E. Brown in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week and was eventually expanded into a month-long observance by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. 

National Hispanic Heritage Month is significant because it coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of several Latin American nations. September 15, which signals the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month, is the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile, and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16, September 18, and September 21, respectively. 

National Hispanic Heritage Month programming

We’re excited to host events that celebrate the histories, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino/Latinx communities! Here’s what’s happening over the next month:  

• [Insert event]
• [Insert event]
• [Insert event]

Ways to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month 

Immerse yourself in the culture 

We’re lucky to live in a time when we have access to multicultural media—from books to television shows to movies. Use National Hispanic Heritage Month as an opportunity to familiarize yourself with other cultures. If you’re not sure where to start, check out the resources below.

• National Hispanic Heritage Month 
• Books To Read For Latinx Heritage Month
• The American Latino Experience: 20 Essential Films Since 2000
• Hispanic Heritage Month Resources By The Smithsonian

If you have any ideas to add to this list, we encourage you to share your recommendations with the rest of the company!

It’s also important to demonstrate your allyship to Hispanic and Latino/Latinx communities year-round by taking action against acts of violence, discrimination, or unfair treatment. 

Take part in local events

Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, there will likely be festivals, concerts, and community gatherings around town. Local museums may have ongoing exhibitions from Hispanic and Latino/Latinx artists as well.

This is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture! Attend as many events as you can with your coworkers, friends, and family. Make sure to prioritize everyone’s health and safety during these gatherings by following recommended protocols around COVID-19. 

Share your story

If you’re of Hispanic or Latino/Latinx heritage and want to share your experiences with the rest of the organization, we encourage you to do so! This can be about anything—from the challenges you faced growing up in the U.S. to your favorite family recipes. 

We’ll have a Slack channel dedicated to National Hispanic Heritage Month that anyone is welcome to post in. We also have an Employee Resource Group (ERG) for our Hispanic and Latino/Latinx employees that anyone can join! At our next meeting, we’ll discuss relevant topics such as: 

• [Insert topic]
• [Insert topic]
• [Insert topic]