Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee

Every year Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15. September 15 is the Independence Day of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile also celebrate independence days during Hispanic Heritage Month. Countries included in Hispanic Heritage Month include Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Hispanic Heritage Week was originally introduced in 1968 and it was extended to a month-long celebration/recognition in 1988.

The United States of America (America) celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by recognizing the contributions and achievements of Hispanic and Latinx Americans, appreciating the community’s history, heritage, and the contributions of ancestors of American citizens who came from Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, and South and Central America. Communities celebrate through festivals, art shows, conferences, community gatherings, and much more.

Part of the goal of Hispanic Heritage Month is to increase the visibility of people, achievements, and events that have helped shape the United States. We encourage you to take a moment to learn about Hispanic leaders, politicians, artists, and others who continue making a difference.

If you are interested in both learning and doing more, join the ABA Wide 21-Day Hispanic Heritage Equity Habit Building Challenge©. The ABA notes that the intention of the Challenge is to “assist each of us to become more aware, compassionate, constructive, engaged people in the quest for equity, and specifically to learn more about the Hispanic Heritage.”

Links to additional resources to learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month are shared below:

• National Museum of the American Latino
• Smithsonian – Hispanic Heritage Month
• National Hispanic Heritage Month
• National Park Service – Hispanic Heritage Month
• NPR – Yes We’re Calling It Hispanic Heritage Month