Litchfield Cavo Acknowledges Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month

You may be wondering, how did Hispanic Heritage Month start? The history of Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States began with a week-long celebration, which was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968. Twenty years later the celebration was extended to a month in legislation drafted by Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan.

September 15 was decided as the starting point due to the significance of the Mexican War of Independence. Since the first presidential proclamation was in 1968, all presidents thereafter have marked the month with a proclamation.

Why do we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? The event is an excellent opportunity for businesses to amplify the voices of the Hispanic population and to acknowledge the critical and crucial role they play in shaping the future of our country. The month is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and recognize the Latinx community as employees, suppliers, consumers, and members of the overall community.

The population growth of Hispanics in the United States shows the significant impact they have on the country through political representations and economic success. Hispanic and Latino employees comprised 29.3 million of the workforce in 2022. That number has grown from 1990 when it was just under 10.7 million, and it’s because of that growth that the Department of Labor projects Hispanics will account for roughly 78 percent of new workers between 2020 and 2030. It’s also projected that 20 percent of all U.S. workers will be Hispanic by 2030.

Each year since it’s signing, Hispanic Heritage Month begins with a presidential proclamation on September 15 and lasts through October 15. As the years have progressed, so have celebrations for the month, which include festivals, art shows, conferences, and gatherings for Hispanics and allies.

The following information was collected from several diversity organizations and other businesses, and is presented for learning and discussion purposes.

Opportunities to Learn About and Recognize Hispanic Heritage Month

• TED Talks to consider:
  • America Ferrera shares “My Identity is a Superpower – Not an Obstacle” (April 2019)
  • Antonia Cereijido discusses “Why We Should Tell More Latino Stories?” (August 2017)
  • Isabel Escobar on “I Am Hispanic and I Am American” (March 2019)

Shows to Consider

• “The Latino List” (2011), available on YouTube
• “Latino Americans”, available on PBS
• “We are Latinos” (2022), available on Kansas City PBS

Podcasts

• “Hyphenated” uses comedy to explore thought-provoking conversations on what it means to live between American and Latin cultures. The series is hosted by comedy actors Joanna Hausmann and Jenny Lorenzo.
• “Latina to Latina” features one-on-one interviews with remarkable women who share stories about the Latina experience in America. The podcast is hosted by Alicia Menendez, MSNBC anchor.
• “Life as a Gringo” takes a look at American-born Latinos who are often challenged over their identities. The show is created by Z100 on-air personality DJ Dramos.

Events to Learn More about Hispanic Heritage Month

• Upcoming events for Hispanic Heritage Month
  • September 15-24 — Warner Bros. Discovery presents New York Latino Film Festival (NYLFF 23 Theatrical Trailer)
  • September 15-24 — Latinx Games Festival host annual video game industry event; online Sept 15-24, and in person at the Columbia Memorial Space Center (Downey, CA) September 23-24
  • September 15-October 15 — Chicago’s Field Museum celebrates Latinx Heritage Month
  • September 16 — Chicago History Museum hosts Family Event | Latinx Heritage Month
  • September 16 — National Museum of the American Indian – New York organizes a concert by fusion band RAYMI
  • September 29 — The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) will live stream the 36^th annual Hispanic Heritage Awards on PBS