From Septiembre 15 to Octubre 15, we are invited to celebrate the Latino community’s rich cultural heritage through food, the power of song and the stories that shaped us through film.
This year’s theme: “Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future” theme, set by the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers, emphasizes how the shared histories and cultural experiences inspire future generations and help build stronger more inclusive futures. Hispanic and Latino identities are often used interchangeably, but they have two different meanings.
"Hispano", derivado de la palabra latina para España Hispania y más tarde España, se acepta generalmente como un término que "se refiere a las personas que hablan español y/o descienden de poblaciones hispanohablantes". También es un término utilizado para representar la cultura y la gente de los países antiguamente controlados por el Imperio Español. En Estados Unidos, "hispano" fue adoptado por la administración del Presidente Nixon y se utiliza en el Censo desde 1980(Diffen). "Latino/a" describe a "las personas que proceden o descienden de personas de Latinoamérica", según la Red Hispana. "Latino" no se incluyó en el Censo de EE.UU. hasta 2000.
La herencia de los hispanoamericanos está arraigada en 20 países y territorios: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, España, Guatemala, Honduras, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, República Dominicana, Uruguay y Venezuela.
Today and every day, CCRC recognizes the achievements, contributions, and rich cultural heritage of the Latino community. Want to learn more? Check out the following resources this month.
Recursos para consultar este mes:
Historia y cultura latinas en los parques por la National Park Foundation
Mes de la Herencia Hispana por PBS
Libros para adultos:
- The Latinx Guide to Liberation by Vanessa Pezo A powerful nonfiction guide to healing from historical and personal trauma within the Latino/a community.
- My (Half) Latinx Kitchen by Kiera Wright-Ruiz A vibrant cookbook with essays exploring identity through food.
- Tsunami: Women’s Voices from Mexico (Anthology) Essays and poetry from Mexican women on feminism, identity, and resistance.
Libros para niños:
- Dreamers by Yuyi Morales A poetic picture book about immigration and creativity.
- Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal A celebration of heritage and identity.
- Islandborn by Junot Díaz A young girl explores her roots and community through storytelling.
- Areli Is a Dreamer by Areli Morales A true story of a DACA recipient’s journey.
- Lista de lectura de la Biblioteca Pública de Los Ángeles: https://www.lapl.org/kids/books/latino-heritage
Latino/a Nonprofits
- Latino Coalition of Los Angeles focuses on equity and justice through community engagement, coalition building, and policy advocacy.
- Somos El Poder empowers Latino/a nonprofits with fundraising training, mentorship, and professional development.
- Casa Latina supports Latino/a immigrants through employment, education, and community organizing.
- Latino Resource Organization offers safety-net services including senior support, immigration assistance, and environmental education.
Mental Health Resources
- Latino/a Therapy identifies therapists and culturally competent mental health professionals.
- Spanish Speaking Psychosocial Clinic – UCLA offers bilingual, culturally responsive therapy and psychiatry services.
- NAMI Westside LA – provides the Latino/a/Hispanic community with resources like Spanish-speaking support groups and connects families with mental health services.
- Latino USCC – is a group, under the LA County Department of Mental Health Community, committed to driving initiatives that reduce stigma and improve access to care for Latino/a communities.