Dear Campus Community,
Last week marked the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. During this time, we celebrate the myriad of contributions that people with heritage from Spanish-speaking countries (Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America) have made to enrich our society. Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 was chosen for National Hispanic Heritage Month because many Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Chile, and Mexico celebrate the anniversary of their independence within this time frame.
This year, the National Hispanic Heritage Month observance theme is “Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope.” According to The National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM), “The theme invites us to celebrate Hispanic Heritage and to reflect on how great our tomorrow can be if we hold onto our resilience and hope. It encourages us to reflect on all of the contributions Hispanics have made in the past, and will continue to make in the future. It is also a reminder that we are stronger together.”
The following Hispanic people — and so many more — embody this theme:
- Dolores Huerta, the Mexican labor leader who co-founded the National Farmworkers Association to help farmers understand their rights and how to protect them.
- Jharrel Jerome, a Dominican American actor who became the first Afro-Latino to win an Emmy for best lead actor in a limited series, portraying Korey Wise in Ava DuVernay’s “When They See Us”.
- Rea Ann Silva, a professional makeup artist of Mexican and Spanish heritage (who’s worked for the likes of Brandy, Kerry Washington, Sean Combs, and Regina King), invented the beauty blender.
- Dr. Domingo Liotta, an Argentinian-born heart surgeon and inventor of the first artificial heart used in a human being.
- Dara Torres, a Cuban-American swimmer, is one of the most decorated Olympians of all time, representing the United States from 1984-2008, and winning 12 total medals (4 gold, 4 silver, and 4 bronze).
Let’s continue to find hope and inspiration in the contributions of the Hispanic community.
Be sure to check out Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s Facebook (@HVCCODEI) and Instagram (@hvcc_odei) throughout the month where we’ll continue to highlight trailblazers from the Hispanic community!
For more resources about National Hispanic Heritage month, please visit Marvin Library: https://libguides.hvcc.edu/history/hispanic.
Additional information can be found at: https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/
In solidarity,
Kayla Miller
Technical Assistant
Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
k.miller1@hvcc.edu
Published: Thu, 23 Sep 2021 12:00:30 +0000 by k.miller1