Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is here, from September 15 to October 15, and we're excited to celebrate and honor the rich tapestry and diverse influence of Latinx culture and contributions—from vibrant traditions and histories to the many achievements of Latinx individuals and communities. 

We acknowledge that experiences are diverse and that the cultures we celebrate this month are rich and varied, each with its own unique heritage. Every community has culturally specific terms that reflect its distinct identity, and we strive to honor these distinctions in our celebration. 

First introduced by Congressman George E. Brown in 1968, President Ronald Reagan expanded the commemoration to a whole month in 1988, recognizing the integral roles of Latinx communities in American history. 

The timing of Hispanic Heritage Month is significant as it coincides with the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (September 15), Mexico (September 16), and Chile (September 18).   

Join us in celebrating some of our most beloved and integral local Latinx producers and community members. 

We're proud of our longstanding partnership with Adelante Mujeres, a local nonprofit dedicated to empowering Latina women and their families through education, leadership training, and enterprise development. Their Empresas Small Business Development Program is a crucial initiative to help Latinx entrepreneurs build and sustain successful small businesses.  

We connected with Elizabeth Aguilera, Ph.D., Director of Communications, and Andrea Chunga-Celis, Director of Development at Adelante Mujeres to learn more about the organization and its contributions to the Latinx community: 
 
NSM: Do you use the term Hispanic or Latinx (or neither) when describing your organization?   

AM: We use the term Latine at our organization. When there is strength and vitality throughout the Latine community, the perspectives, values, culture, and commitments of Latinos improve the experience of everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, or social status.  

NSM: How is food incorporated into the work your organization does?   

AM: One of our core values is to love and respect the earth, and we weave that into everything we do, like acquiring land for our regenerative agricultural program to support the growth of regenerative farmers and increasing access to healthy, locally grown produce for our Latine community. We also contribute through our food-related programs: Adelante Farmers Market, Produce RX, and Child Nutrition Program.  

NSM: Why is federal acknowledgment and celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month important?   

AM: It highlights Latine contributions to this nation and the work that still needs to be done—for Latine women and their families who have faced generations of poverty, racism, sexism, isolation, and limited opportunities for empowerment. 

NG: My heritage fuels my love for cooking and chili peppers. I grew up in the kitchen with my grandmother, who made us fresh flour tortillas daily, and when my family gets together, we cook. Our recipes are our family heirlooms. I've also spent time traveling in Mexico, exploring regional cooking, the origins and recipes of specific peppers, and the homemade market salsas you can buy from the abuelas.  

NSM: What's your favorite dish from childhood/to enjoy during celebrations?    

NG: My favorite comfort food from childhood is a fresh handmade flour tortilla with bacon, avocado, and my Gramal's Chilie Salsa. For celebrations, I love making beans, rice, and calabacitas (sautéed zucchini, corn, fresh tomatoes, and onions).  

NSM: Why is the federal acknowledgment and celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month important?    

NG: For our government to recognize the contributions made to our democracy and culture by Latin Americans, if you don't recognize the past and celebrate diversity, you encourage monoculture.