Hispanic Heritage Month started as a week-long celebration in 1968. Since 1988, it has been a month-long celebration in the U.S. for Americans descended from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The celebration runs from September 15 to October 15, encompassing many Independence Day celebrations for Latin American countries, and Día de la Raza on October 12 that celebrates the cultural diversity of Latin America.
This year, as the Delta variant of COVID-19 is ramping up infection rates across the country, many may be wondering how to safely celebrate the festivals that are usually held during this month. Here are some ways to celebrate Latine culture and achievements while staying safe:
Many Diversity Best Practices at Seramount members are doing great things to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, read on to see what some of them are doing:
To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Allstate has created ERG-hosted events for employees:
A Hispanic Heritage Month candidate recruitment social media campaign will focus on quotes from the Professional Latino Allstate Network (PLAN) board and general members to showcase how being part of PLAN has impacted their careers at Allstate.
Latino Resource Group events include:
American Red Cross has relaunched its partnership with National Hispanic Corporate Council (NHCC) and is excited to announce that Carmel Darcy, SVP of Finance and National Co-Sponsor of the Latino Resource Group has been appointed to the NHCC national Board of Directors. The company is hosting an informational session for folks to learn about this partnership and connecting key stakeholders (talent acquisition, supplier diversity, and LRG) to engage. The Red Cross also continues to deploy folks across the country for disaster responses and is better equipped to engage with the Latine Community through the Latine Engagement Teams as well as partnerships with Latino organizations/churches/embassies.
The Red Cross has expanded and enhanced Latine engagement initiatives both internally and externally. The company launched an internal Latino Executive Steering Committee composed of Director-level and above Latine leaders to help advocate for needs within the community and drive change in the workforce. This group has advocated for positive changes within the Red Cross and would love to share more about all of their Latine initiatives as it’s a growing force within the organization.
The [email protected] Business Resource Group is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month throughout September by recognizing the contributions of people of Hispanic descent. With the theme of “Smiles” (Sonrisas), [email protected] has planned a variety of activities intended to help employees brighten their work environment and beyond. On September 22, [email protected] will present its signature event “Harnessing the Power of Humor for Personal Success” with guest speaker Ana Belaval. Belaval, a native of Puerto Rico, is a four-time Emmy Award winner and “Around Town” reporter for Chicago’s WGN Morning News.
As a prelude to Hispanic Heritage Month, and in coordination with Baxter’s Early Career Professionals Business Resource Group, [email protected] welcomed author and educator Dr. Robert Rodriguez for a discussion of how employees can improve their leadership skills and develop an executive presence. On September 8, [email protected] celebrated the launch of a new chapter in Mexico. On September 15, [email protected] will offer a virtual Zumba fitness class.
Throughout September, the [email protected] team will share information on the company’s internal social media platform focusing on the history, language, and leaders of Latin American descent. This will include a “Latino Leadership” Video Series highlighting the career journeys of Latino leaders from across the organization.
Capital’s Business Resource Community, CG Unidos, has planned a number of virtual events for associates to celebrate Latine/Hispanic Heritage Month (LHHM) around the theme “Unite to Ignite.” Virtual events include:
This fall, Capital One is proud to recognize and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) with a series of virtual programming and events highlighting the historical, cultural, economic, and societal contributions of the Hispanic and Latine communities. The theme of this year’s HHM celebration is Welcome to the Mosaico, celebrating the richness and cultural diversity within the Hispanic and Latine community, with a particular focus on common bonds and challenges. The campaign will celebrate the vibrancy of interconnected cultural and linguistic heritages – bringing the “mosaic” of these differences to life. The Mosaico concept will come to life through physical, social and digital channels, and internal communications.
Throughout HHM, Capital One will celebrate, elevate and advocate for the Hispanic and Latine community and its allies through storytelling, physical transformation of workspaces, and charitable donations. HOLA, Capital One’s Hispanic/Latino Business Resource Group (BRG), will host both enterprise-wide and local virtual programming intended to educate, engage, and empower its members. The line-up includes a fireside chat with Hispanic/Latine elected leadership, featuring representatives from Congress and the judicial branch, keynote addresses with inspirational Latine leaders from a variety of different backgrounds and industries, development sessions with Capital One’s Career Development Center (CDC), workshops on inventorship and digital presence, and a virtual art exhibit, El Arte Habla.
In addition to the above, activities throughout the month will include cooking demos, Latin beverage education, Branch and Cafe Block parties, Cafecito coffee chats, and events that explore the music and culture of the community. Internally, Capital One will create a Landing Page for associates to easily access all HHM related content including:
“Uniquely connected: Exploring identity through three associate stories” will focus on Hispanic Heritage Month and explore what it means to identify as “Hispanic” or “Latine” from people across the larger identity group and ethnicities. Each episode highlights how the company is connected through the human experience in ways not clearly visible at the surface level by collecting short sentiment and experience stories from three different associates.
Capital One is committed to driving meaningful change in an effort to create equity and inclusion for all. The company strives to lead by example – embracing culture, championing equity and creating opportunities for advancement and economic growth for the Hispanic and Latine community. In commemoration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Capital One is partnering with UnidosUS contributing $500K towards breaking down social, economic and systemic barriers. Select Cafes (listed below) will be transformed with the Welcome to the Mosaico look and feel to celebrate the diversity of cultures and experiences that Hispanic and Latine associates represent. This will be achieved through digital and static screens, window clings and a custom Spotify playlist. Cafe Ambassadors will also join in with custom HHM apparel and other swag. The look of the campaign will reflect colorful mosaic patterns to represent the diversity of the Hispanic and Latine cultures, languages, and identities coming together as one underscoring the campaign anthem – *“We are many, but we are also one. One amazing, diverse, passionate group of people. One beautiful work of art, pieced together with love and unity.”
Capital One will also explore the beautiful mosaico of Hispanic and Latine music with a robust digital media buy across media properties that includes Spotify & Pandora. Through this offering, visitors will be able to interact with the campaign, explore the Welcome to the Mosaico custom playlist and learn more about what Capital One is doing to support the Hispanic and Latine communities. A call to action will lead to Capitalone.com/about where visitors will find additional information about Capital One’s HHM campaign and the company’s efforts in the community. Furthermore, Capital One will include Welcome to the Mosaico in the Out Of Home signage at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Cafes: Brickell Cafe – Miami, Florida Downtown Austin Cafe – Austin, Texas Santa Monica Cafe – Los Angeles, California Scottsdale Cafe – Scottsdale, Arizona Union Square Cafe/ Branch – New York, New York Georgetown Cafe – Washington, DC Branches: Washington Heights Branch – 620 W 181 St, NY 10033 South Bronx Branch – 557 Melrose Ave, Bronx, NY 10455 Houston NW Branch.
In addition to the events listed above, HHM will kick off internally for associates on September 15 with a discussion on financial recovery in the Hispanic/Latine community post-COVID. This candid discussion will be hosted by leaders in the external affairs team and the HOLA BRG accountable executive.
Beginning on September 15, HHM content will be shared across all Capital One’s social channels including Enterprise, Tech, Talent, Cafe and PR. Capital One’s Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and About Us pages will all be updated with Welcome to the Mosaico headers for a cohesive look across the social platforms. The hashtag #WelcomeToTheMosaico will be used throughout the campaign to highlight content across all the company’s social channels. Colorful mosaic art will be displayed in static displays and animated videos to introduce viewers to the campaign and encourage them to explore how Capital One is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. The social campaign will include four Associate stories, which will delve into their cultures, identities and how they found their place in the mosaico of their communities. The company will also share content about the $500K contribution to UnidosUS and the commitment to their Racial Equity Initiative that works to recognize the contributions of the Latine community and the systemic barriers they face.
The company says: “At Capital One, we celebrate the long standing contributions of the Hispanic and Latine community, and strive to create more equitable experiences that help them thrive. Through support of programs, initiatives and investments, we stand committed to breaking down barriers of access and opportunity, to support the social and economic vitality of this growing community.”
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Element’s Latine BRG is hosting a series of events and programming to celebrate Hispanic/Latine culture and promote diversity & inclusion in the workplace.
Element has also partnered with Esperanza United for their Building Hope event on October 6 from 12:00-12:45pm EST. They will also have social media posts throughout the month celebration.
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM), the North America region and our Hispanic Connections Employee Resource Groups (HiC ERG) will be hosting a number of panel discussions and masterclasses during the month. Our North America Region will be hosting two panel discussions:
The Hispanic Connections Employee Resource Group will host a number of masterclasses:
In late September, the North America Region will also launch the third issue of The Culture Report, an internal magazine, which will be dedicated to Hispanic Heritage Month.
#ELCFamilia. On September 15th, the company will kick-off the celebration of HHM with an Op-ed and post on our Company Instagram
On September 15th the company will kick-off the celebration of HHM with an Op-ed on the ELCO site.
Experian is honored to recognize and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. By 2024, Experian is aiming to increase the Hispanic-Latine employee representation by 43 percent which is reflective of the US labor market. Experian is also developing new credit education resources tailored for the Hispanic-Latine community including the translations of some of the existing resources. Here’s what the company is planning to share more about during HHM:
Experian’s Juntos Employee Resource Group is organizing many opportunities for their employees to get engaged during Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM). While they’re organizing both internal and external events, here’s a sneak peek and some of the events Experian is hosting internally for employees:
Experian is also encouraging employees to attend any events that the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion partners are hosting for HHM which include:
Experian is proud to sponsor the UnidosUS 2021 LatinX InclusXion Summit as a Silver Sponsor. They’re encouraging any interested employees to join for free on Experian’s dime.
Social Media Actions:
All on Experian’s Corporate Social Media channels:
Making an Impact At Freddie Mac Freddie Mac is building on the commitment to DEI by making an impact with the Hispanic Organization for Leadership and Achievement Business Resource Group (HOLA BRG) in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. The BRG will commemorate the occasion with virtual events and speakers, including:
In celebration of the Familia (Hispanic/Latine) Heritage Month at General Mills, the company has put together meaningful events with the aim of engaging employees in feeling valued for their contribution to the organization as well as being proud of their heritage. General Mills wants to celebrate the heritage of the Hispanic/Latine Community when they bring their full self to work. To celebrate, General Mills will be hosting the following programs:
September 15 marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to give special recognition to Howmet Aerospace employees of Hispanic heritage. In the Howmet family, there are 2,385 Hispanic employees. That’s more than 11 percent of Howmet’s total workforce! The company is justifiably proud of the success of the wheels business in Mexico to see the impact Howmet’s Hispanic workforce is making.
The company has an intersectional event with the Hispanic and Next Generation Networks, who will be hosting a ‘Meet the Leader’ webinar with Chief Commercial Officer, Mike Chanatry. Mike will be talking about his career, hints, and tips for leadership progression and mentoring.
The company has partnered with the Howmet Foundation to provide a grant in Fullerton, California to be used on promoting health and wellbeing to the Hispanic Community in Orange County.
The Hispanic Network will be profiling members in manufacturing, highlighting their contribution towards company successes
This year in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Diversity and Inclusion Office (DIO) at the IMF is kicking off the month with a blog post featuring some suggested activities to be sent out to the company’s Diversity Reference Groups. These activities will be for the whole month Sept 15 – Oct 15 highlighting different things to celebrate and show what Hispanic Heritage Month means and why it matters. On Sept 21, the DIO in collaboration with DRGs and the Hispanic/Latine Community will host a virtual discussion on Exploring Identity, Achievements, Challenges, and Future Aspirations of the Latine/Hispanic Community in the U.S.A.
The IMF will also be sharing a blog post on their LinkedIn page during the month’s celebration. Check here for more information.
Lam Research has an Employee Resource Group that focuses on next generation and student success: The vision is to collaborate internally with external organizations from the African American and Latine communities in the Bay Area to expose and introduce more students to STEM programs by fostering and mentoring the creative imaginations of youth participants. Lam Research hopes to create opportunities leading to internships or, better yet, to them forming brand new technologies and their own companies!
Based on this initiative, Lam Research’s ERGs will be hosting events throughout Hispanic Heritage Month tied to their STEM outreach efforts. In addition, Lam Research will participate in a Silicon Valley Hispanic Ball, where an ERG leader will speak. As October 1 also starts Global Diversity Awareness month, Lam Research will incorporate Hispanic Heritage Month into a celebration of global cultures as well.
LinkedIn’s ERG Community will host multiple events for their Hispanic/Latine ERG audience. There will also be internal and external events posted for internal audiences to learn more and get involved. LinkedIn will communicate the event offerings globally and will run a video internally about colorism in the Hispanic and Latine community.
Events are for internal and external stakeholders. Hosting a LinkedIn Live featuring the Head of Equity with a prominent member from LinkedIn’s partner We Are All Human to discuss the responsibility tech has to drive equity in the business. Another LinkedIn Live focused on the multicultural aspects of the Hispanic and Latine community in pursuit of helping members understand the effects of colorism in the Latine community. Every Latine’s colorism experience is unique. Three of LinkedIn’s leaders will participate in two fortune 500 company events. Three leaders in the Hispanic/Latine community will post about on LinkedIn, LinkedIn News will create a storyline populated with relevant stories from HHM for others to track.
Mailchimp will be offering events for employees hosted by their ERGs throughout Hispanic Heritage Month. An example of one event is Get Lit and In the Kitchen. They will be partnering with both internal and external speakers that identify as Afro-Latine/e to explore the very diverse and rich culture of Latinidad. They will also be running a social media campaign to honor and observe Hispanic Heritage Month.
Mcdonald’s will be hosting internal events during Hispanic Heritage Month, including:
This Hispanic Heritage Month, Medtronic’s theme is “The Power of One Community.” It’s a month to celebrate, promote, and recognize the value of Hispanic/Latine culture at Medtronic. The company is honoring heritage and recognizing the power of community through a full calendar of diverse and vibrant programming. Medtronic is providing space for ERG members to connect, learn, and thrive with initiatives focused on self-growth and professional development. The company will support and take action toward the causes most impactful in our community. And it’ll celebrate Hispanic heritage by highlighting and honoring traditions and culture.
Internal events include:
An external event Medtronic is hosting is:
Under the theme “Esperanza: a Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope,” Merck’s Alianza EBRG has prepared a four-week-long calendar of events across all company sites. The company is celebrating the rich and diverse culture and the many significant contributions that Hispanos and Latines make to global economies and societies. This year, the spotlight is on the authentic brand of inclusive leadership of Hispanics and Latines at Merck and the opportunities to succeed. New to this year is a well-balanced hybrid program (virtual and face to face) to reach existing and new members wherever they are in the continuum of pandemic recovery. Below are listed some selected events for illustration purposes.
“Get to Know Each Other” sessions: Members share their experiences and lessons learned.
“Leading Inclusion from SNG to PR”: A signature event led by our Hispano-Latine AVP leaders.
“Cafecito” Series: Topics relevant to our members presented in an informal setting.
Gastronomy show: Occurring at all sites.
“LATAM – The Place to be the Place to Work” Series: Showcasing Merck’s presence in Latin America. Each session shines the spotlight in a different country. Employees are taken on a “virtual tour” in each country and get to know the teams and the communities.
“Your Stories”: Video profiles to amplify the achievements of our members.
“Advancing R&D through Diversity” Series: Showcasing Hispano-Latine scientific leaders.
Connexion Professional Series: “Latino Talent Pipeline Building” for the ALIANZA Leadership team.
“How to Accelerate Your Career Growth as a Hispano/Latino”: Outside speaker Jose Pinero coaches the Hispano-Latine community
“Reach Wide”: Events to extend the values of Hispanic Latino culture and embrace diversity.
Previous recordings of keynote addresses and other significant external participation of members, for example, Carmen Villar, VP of Social Business Innovation insights on fighting for equity from the health care industry.
ALIANZA members have an outstanding record as engaged volunteers and active supporters of external organizations. During the HHM, they’re volunteering and contributing to the events organized by: HISPA, an internal Lunch & Learn to engage additional ALIANZA members to become role models and a Kick-Off and Recruiting Event themed “Con Esperanza: Celebrating our Heritage and Commitment to Sharing Stories.”
For social media actions, Merck is posting “Your Stories,” “How you do it,” and other multimedia content internally and on LinkedIn. This year’s challenge, organized by ALIANZA is: “Esperanza is, Hope is,”. See more by searching the hashtags #PweredByInclusion and #HispanicHeritageMonth.
ALIANZA celebrated 25 Years of existence at Merck in 2021 amid the challenges presented by the pandemic. The celebration brought Merck to an “aha” moment as it showcased the many contributions that Hispanics and Latines have made, especially in Merck’s R&D pipeline. The signature event was a frank and open conversation with then CEO, Kenneth Frazier. A strong supporter of Diversity, Kenneth Frazier shared his conviction that his success was in large part mainly due to the Diverse and Inclusive communities that made their cause to “not let him fail”. Alianza is committed to expanding on that legacy.
Moody’s has planned two interactive newsletters, Zoom backgrounds, a recommended book list, music list, and articles on the intranet (MINT) and on Slack. Events include a panel discussion around career development, a leadership spotlight, and a speed network event. Moody’s is excited to continue their ongoing partnership with ALPFA, and will be announcing a special honor in mid-September. They will also be honoring Hispanic/Latine leaders on LinkedIn during the month.
MongoDB is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month through initiatives that raise awareness, foster education, and build community. This includes an educational session featuring an employee panel on the Latine experience in the Tech industry, a global Slack channel with daily Latine heritage facts for all employees, and a music and reading playlist curated by members of TUPOC, MongoDB’s affinity group for people of color.
Neustar, a global information services and technology company, celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with the launch of its Hispanic/Latinx Employee Resource Group as well as several events and resources to educate and recognize the diverse culture within this community.
Dedicated Resource and Support Site
Neustar will launch an internal education site where employees can find resources to learn about Hispanic/Latine history and find links to other educational sources to help increase awareness of the diversity within this community.
Launch of Employee Resource Group: NeuVoz
Neustar is launching its Hispanic/Latine Employee Resource Group, NeuVoz, during an organization-wide virtual celebration on September 29. NeuVoz’s mission focuses on increasing cultural competencies, elevating the diverse Hispanic and Latinx cultures within Neustar, and adding incremental business value.
The NeuVoz kickoff event will include stories shared by leadership and colleagues. In addition, it will highlight the group’s initiatives and celebrate the diverse Hispanic and Latinx diaspora within the organization.
Neustar Gives Back
Neustar is committed to volunteering time to efforts that drive change and equity through its donation matching program, Neustar Gives Back. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month – and as part of the company’s overall Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Corporate Social Responsibility mission – Neustar will focus its matching efforts to nonprofit organizations that support the Hispanic and Latine communities.
Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, Neustar will post educational, cultural, and awareness content on its internal and external social media channels.
New York Life Insurance Company will be hosting a series of events throughout Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate the culture and history of Hispanic Americans.
Northern Trust’s Latin Heritage Leadership Council is hosting a number of events for employees to commemorate HHM, including:
The company’s Chicago chapter is hosting a no-contact supply drive to benefit St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly and the Tempe chapter is partnering with Heritage Square to bring volunteer and membership opportunities to employees.
Northern Trust’s Latin Heritage Leadership Council is excited to bring virtual programming to employees to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month 2021. Through the planned programs, the group is inviting employees across North America to engage and learn more about the contributions that Americans tracing their roots to Mexico, Central America, South America and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean have made to American society and culture.
SOL, Sodexo’s Employee Business Group for Latines, is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) with the theme of Personal Commitment To Advance Our Communities. SOL is inviting everyone to make a personal commitment to improve the Quality of Life in the workplace, as well as for children, adults and seniors in the Latine community.
As part of their celebration, SOL is hosting their signature SOLebration featuring events during the month including two lunch and learns, a movie night and a virtual roundtable.
As part of their networking and connecting with members and allies, SOL will host a movie night of In The Heights. Wrapping up HHM, will be the Social Impact: Our Community and Our People roundtable featuring the impact SOL is having in the Hispanic/Latine community and in the company.
For Hispanic Heritage Month, TD Bank will be hosting the following employee-only events, hosted by their ERGs:
Burson, Cohn, & Wolfe
For Hispanic Heritage Month, Burson, Cohn, & Wolfe (BCW) will be celebrating in the following ways:
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
For Hispanic Heritage Month, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland is holding the followingevents:
Health Care Service Corporation
Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company (HCSC)’s Latinos for Advancement (LA) BRG will offer a unique month-long celebration of the diversity that makes up the rich culture and heritage of Hispanics during the 2021 Hispanic Heritage event. This year’s Hispanic Heritage Month theme, “ESPERANZA: A CELEBRATION OF HISPANIC HERITAGE AND HOPE”, will highlight the company’s history and future opportunities within local communities by providing informative and cultural events pertaining to Hispanic contributions, culture and community ties that positively enrich society. The month-long event will be kicked off with a ‘Spotlight on Leadership’ event featuring Janice Torrez, the current New Mexico plan president and LA executive sponsor.
Following the kickoff, LA will host additional cultural events to educate and engage LA members and employees in celebrating Latine food, wellness, and leadership. This year’s celebration is presented collectively by all LA BRG Chapters in a virtual format, including the following events:
September 22: Spotlight on Leadership Wednesday, Opening Ceremony with the New Mexico Plan President and LA Executive Sponsor, Janice Torrez
For Hispanic Heritage Month, ViacomCBS will be hosting the following events to celebrate:
The company will also be performing a Talent Social Media Campaign under the hashtags #SomosUnidos #SiemprePresente.
Fifth Third Banks’ Latino BRGs have planned a variety of events and activities to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Here is some of what’s in store:
Learn more about Fifth Third’s BRG groups and diversity efforts at www.53.com/diversity.