We are in the midst of National Hispanic Heritage Month and we want to take a moment to recognize our members and friends who have made an impact in our chapters, our lives and our society. The word “Hispanic” refers to anyone whose ancestors came from Spain, the Caribbean, Mexico and Central and South America.

While many of us do not have Hispanic heritage, we have brothers and friends who fall into this category. It is important that we recognize these heritage months in order to continue to educate ourselves about the diverse world around us so we can best understand and communicate with others.

HispanicHeritageMonth.gov tells a bit of the history of this heritage month:

• The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
• The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30-day period.

From Cesar Chavez to Sonia Sotomayor and Jennifer Lopez to Roberto Clemente, Hispanic Americans have made a significant impact on the culture of the United States and beyond. This month is celebrated in many ways from art exhibits and concerts to educational lectures. We would like to take this moment to encourage our members to check out the resources below to learn about the achievements, history and heritage of Hispanic Americans.

Learn about History:

• https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/
• https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/09/09/key-facts-about-u-s-latinos-for-national-hispanic-heritage-month/
• https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/hispanic-heritage-month.htm
• https://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/national-hispanic-heritage-month/