Hispanic Heritage Month | Celebrating culture, traditions and history

Summary

The program celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, observed from September 15 to October 15, under the theme “Unidos Somos Más” (“Together, we are stronger”). It highlights the histories and contributions of Latino and Hispanic communities, which the broadcast says number more than 65 million people in the United States—about one in five residents.

Origins and notable figures

Hispanic Heritage Week began in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson. After Congressman Esteban Torres advocated for a longer observance, it was expanded by law in 1988, and President George H. W. Bush declared the first Hispanic Heritage Month in 1989.

The September 15 start date coincides with independence anniversaries in several Central American countries, followed by Mexico’s Independence Day on September 16 and Chile’s on September 18. The broadcast also recognizes Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, labor and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, and baseball player Roberto Clemente.

Culture and community

Several reports show how people sustain culture and serve their communities:

• In Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, firefighter Cesar Alvarez uses his Spanish and English to help residents communicate with emergency services.
• In Denver, a dual-language elementary school teaches in Spanish and English while fostering cultural awareness.
• Maria Harrington, who was once discouraged from speaking Spanish as a child, now runs a language school in Sacramento.
• In Austin, journalist Nancy Flores has shaped Austin Vida into a news and culture outlet focused on Latino experiences.

The program also covers efforts to broaden opportunity and celebrate traditions. A nonprofit in Atlanta helps first-time buyers navigate barriers to homeownership, and featured Mexican immigrant Natalie Hernandez bought a home after years of saving. A family bakery in Nampa makes tamales rooted in generations of tradition. In San Diego, Olivewood Gardens teaches healthy cooking through Mexican-inspired recipes and community gardening. Other features include a botanical take on the Mexican game lotería and a Chula Vista shop creating quinceañera dresses and floral designs.

Music and representation

An exhibition at Texas State University explores Selena Quintanilla’s continuing influence and legacy. The program also notes recent milestones for Latin music artists and profiles a Midland, Texas, high-school mariachi teacher who uses music to connect students with Mexican heritage and encourage self-reliance.

The broadcast concludes that culture is kept alive through music, food, family, education, and community.

Presenters and contributors

• Brenda Rodriguez — host
• Devon Patton
• María Guzmán
• Byron Reed
• Jonathan Martin
• Jeff Zelli
• Esmeralda Perez
• Anna Rucker
• Cameron Leal