Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) needs to evolve.
I said what I said.
The salsa lessons and flag waving will always have a place in our celebrations.
But our community is ready for more. And honestly, in need of it too.
Hispanic Heritage Month - The Early Years
I remember my first HHM celebration at work. It was about 25 years ago.
And it was held in a conference room.
We gave one table to each country.
I was at the Puerto Rican table. Salsa was blasting from a tiny boom box and little coquís were scattered everywhere.
I wore two buttons.
One said, I’m bi-lingual, bi-cultural and proud of my heritage. We need that on a tee!
The other said, Kiss me. I’m Puerto Rican. It’s a button my sister got at the Puerto Rican Day Parade and honestly, when I think back to it, I cringe a little because it got me exactly the kind of attention I didn't want. Lesson learned!
Anyways, that was about the extent of our celebration the first year.
The following year, we kicked it up a notch by having a lunch. The food was fantastic and everyone loved it. We had music, dancers, the works. I even had my mother custom-make capias for everyone. If you don’t know what those are, they are decorative, handmade corsage-style pins given to guests as party favors. Usually at weddings, baby showers, and baptisms. My mom specifically created them for our event and they were stunning. Each one was different. Making capias was Mami’s superpower. She made them for all of our major family events.
These are not Mami’s capias. Just sharing to give you an example of what they look like.
Hispanic Heritage Month - What It Became
HHM has definitely evolved since then. But in some places, not by much. I’ve led several Latinx ERGs over the years so I’m very familiar with the landscape.
At one organization, we decided to spotlight the Latin American business because that’s where many of our Latinx colleagues worked. It felt like such a natural tie-in and a way to demonstrate the ERG's value and impact on the bottom line. And yet, I remember senior leaders being confused about why we were making that connection. We were definitely a little ahead of our time!
At the same organization, we created a series called Spotlight on Latinx Excellence where we highlighted Latinx colleagues across the organization, talked about their roles and contributions, and explored how they got there. I remember one particular guest inviting his parents to the interview. It was such a moving moment to see his Dad in the audience. It's a series I'm extremely proud of and the one that inspired my LinkedIn show, Latinas: Front & Center.
At another organization, we invited a senior politician to speak to the ERG. One of our senior leaders conducted the interview and it turned out to be one of our most memorable events. He was a queer, Afro-Latino, which meant his message resonated far beyond just our ERG. We opened it up to other ERGs and even brought in colleagues from our Government Affairs team. What started as an ERG event became a true company-wide moment that spotlighted one of our own.
At yet another organization, we wanted our executive sponsors to hear directly from our members and give members a chance to get to know them too. So we hosted a series of Ask Me Anything sessions where sponsors shared a bit about their career journeys and then opened the floor to questions. They were intimate conversations and well received on both sides.
To me, these are the types of ERG events I think we should be hosting. They allow members to feel seen, they include colleagues from different parts of the organization, and they offer real tips for how members can continue to develop and grow.
Hispanic Heritage Month - What It Could Be
I’ve been part of the ERG ecosystem for over 25 years, and that lived experience gives me a front-row seat to where we’ve been and where we need to go.
Our community deserves more than a month.
And more than celebrations.We need year-round authentic conversations that acknowledge our contributions while challenging us to show up differently, lead boldly, and take up the space we’ve more than earned.
As an ERG speaker, coach and advisor, I aim to provide programming options that elevate our work while making sure members feel valued, celebrated and empowered to keep reaching for more.
So this year, I’m offering three distinct options for HHM:
Latinas: Front & Center — The Experience A live, on-site version of my LinkedIn Live series. This experience is great for spotlighting your people and engaging audiences across the organization.
From Playing Small to Using Your Voice A fireside chat inspired by my book, Calladita No More. This conversation is for ERGs who want to empower their members to speak up, self-advocate, and stop playing small in spaces that weren't built for them.
Leading Authentically An interactive roundtable where participants go deeper on identity, leadership, and what it really means to show up as yourself at work. Ideal for smaller, more intimate groups ready for real conversation.
Where We Go From Here
There’s no question that Hispanic Heritage Month has evolved and yet, there’s still an opportunity to do more for our members.
This year…
What are you going to focus on?
Where are you going to provide a little something extra to make your members feel seen?
How are you going to bring more colleagues into the conversation?
How will you use your ERG as a tool for empowering colleagues and advancing inclusion and belonging across your organization?
How will you create a space that empowers your members to thrive at work in new and important ways?
If you're ready to reimagine what HHM can be at your organization, I'd love to be part of that conversation. Schedule a free exploratory call with me here.