Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month

Welcome to the first of our new series of Multicultural Newsletters! We will be sharing several more of these newsletters throughout the year as we recognize heritage months, holidays, and more.

In the future, we will be reaching out to our families and staff to invite them to share their own cultures, histories, and traditions with us. We hope you'll join us in sharing your stories and celebrating the diversity of our Insight PA community!

From https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov -

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

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 September18, respectively.

With the increasing use of Latinx vs. Hispanic, many people refer to Hispanic Heritage Month as Latinx Heritage Month. Watch the video below to learn more about this month, why some people prefer to use "Latinx", and the importance of representation and inclusion in our schools.

This year, Visit Philadelphia launched Hispanic Voices, a campaign to highlight the diversity within the Hispanic and Latino community! Click the button link below to read about the campaign and watch the video series that showcases Hispanic Philadelphians from diverse backgrounds.

In this video below, you'll get to explore some incredible stories that depict how spectacular America's Hispanic culture is. From a family of young Norteno musicians honoring their heritage to kids bridging the U.S.-Mexico border with sports, these stories show how strong our diverse nation is together.

⚾ Baseball is the national pastime! But it’s also an American export, one with a tradition that’s constantly evolving. ¡Pleibol! shares the experiences of Latinas and Latinos whose love for the game and incredible talent have changed baseball and transformed American culture forever. Visit the link below to learn more!

Click the button link below for reading suggestions for all age groups!

Hispanic Heritage Month may only last for 30 days, but we encourage you to continue to celebrate Hispanic/Latinx people and their contributions to society all throughout the year! Neighborhoods, museums, events, and more provide opportunities to learn and pay homage year-round. Here are some ways to continue honoring Hispanic and Latinx people in the U.S. and help support the inclusion and belonging of Hispanic/Latinx people:

1. Visit places in the U.S. with predominant Latinx communities.
   
   

2. Learn to recognize different Spanish dialects and practice speaking Spanish with an app like DuoLingo.
   
   

3. Take a mini geography lesson on a few well-known Spanish-speaking countries.
   
   

4. Research and consider holding respectful observations and celebrations like Día de los Muertos or Las Posadas or Día de los Reyes Magos.
   
   

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