Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Association Latinos 

Next week marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. Observed from September 15 through October 15, this month-long celebration honors and recognizes the rich cultures, histories and contributions of the Hispanic and Latino communities which represent 18.9% of the U.S. population.

The contributions of Hispanic and Latino professionals span every professional industry. Within the association community, Association Latinos  plays a pivotal role in advancing leadership, representation, and inclusion. With 40 volunteer leaders, five committees and a growing community of 3,000+ LinkedIn followers, Association Latinos advocates for the community not only during Hispanic Heritage Month but year-round.  

Inclusivity and Representation Matter, so does Allyship 

Josie Hernandez, IOM, President of Association Latinos and Account Executive at Bostrom, shared her insights for this heritage month. 

“Latinos can bring unique perspectives and experiences to the association profession that enable them to identify and build relationships with members, volunteer leaders, serve as innovative problem solvers and identify opportunities for organizational growth,” said Hernandez. These opportunities can be accompanied by barriers, including the challenge of confronting implicit bias in the professional landscape.    

To address these challenges, colleagues must serve as allies to Latinos and help foster a positive workplace that supports growth and development for all. Hernandez emphasizes that the first step is for professionals to recognize and educate themselves about implicit biases and understand how they may affect both perceptions and opportunities for Latino colleagues.  

Hispanic Heritage Month with Association Latinos  

This upcoming month is the perfect opportunity to connect with Association Latinos to learn more about the organization and honor the broader Latino community nationwide.   

1. Follow Association Latinos on LinkedIn for member highlights throughout Hispanic Heritage Month. 
   
   
2. Attend the Conexiones Educational Summit, immediately followed by the Honores Award Ceremony on Friday, October 10 in Chicago, IL. Learn more about Conexiones here. 
   
   
3. Attend October’s Forum After Dark™ event, powered by Visit Richmond in partnership with Association Forum and Association Latinos. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the event theme will once again be Noche de Forum and held at Association Forum’s office on Oct. 16 from 5 – 6:30 p.m. You can expect food, drinks, and a fiesta atmosphere! Click here for more information. Registration is free (members only)!

Ways to Gain Insights and Knowledge 

To help association professionals remain informed and better support the Latino community, we asked Josie Hernandez to share recommended resources. 

1. The Hispanic Star provides infographics and resources that highlight the Latino population. 
2. We Are All Human Foundation has resources on Latino leadership. 
3. Latino Donor Collaborative to explore research data on the U.S. Latino population. 
4. Hispanic Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing education, workforce development, societal impact, and leadership, with culture serving as the cornerstone of its mission. 
5. Last but not least! –  Association Latinos to connect with Latino leaders in the association industry. 

Looking to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? 

Chicago’s diverse communities make it an ideal place to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! Events throughout the city not only showcase Latino cultures but also honor and celebrate the contributions of these communities. 

If you are looking for ways to celebrate, here are some ideas: 

1. Explore Chicago Public Library  programs all month including:
2. Film Screening: educational documentaries, adventure stories, and comedies for all ages.  
3. Creation Stations: bring your creativity for these hands-on events such as decorating sugar skulls, making a corn husk dolls or crafting a piñata. 
4. Enjoy a Chicago sports games while honoring the heritage month! 
5. White Sox Hispanic Heritage Night (Sept. 19) 
6. Chicago Fire Hispanic Heritage Night (Sept. 27) 
7. Chicago Cubs Hispanic Heritage Celebration (Sept. 25) 
8. Visit Chicago’s museums that celebrate Latino heritage year-round and host special events during the month: 
9. National Museum of Mexican Art
10. The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture  
11. Field Museum 

For more suggestions to honor and celebrate the month, visit this blog post from Choose Chicago.  

Whether or not you are a member of the Latino community, there is value in coming together to celebrate our colleagues by learning, appreciating and honoring the rich cultures, histories and traditions.