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The Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan joins the Hispanic community in celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place each year from September 15 to October 15. We pay tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our West Michigan community and our nation. This year’s theme, released by the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM), is “Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future”. This theme was intentionally chosen to recognize and remember the sacrifice and struggle of Hispanic leaders of the past and encourage inspiration and togetherness for new generations to create their own paths of triumph in the future.

This observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week and, in 1988, it was expanded to encompass a 30-day period. “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 September 18, respectively” (Census.gov). There are multiple important resources that celebrate and recognize the achievements of Hispanic Americans, as well as some ways you can get involved! We’ve compiled a few of them in a list—see below some ideas of how you can participate in or celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

1. Support a local Hispanic or Latin-owned restaurant or business near you! A couple of our favorite restaurants in the Grand Rapids area are El Granjero Mexican Grill and Mi Pueblito Mexican Restaurant.

2. Read about some key figures in Latino history and their contributions over the years, put together by the National Museum of the American Latino.

3. Practice Spanish by using a free app on your device. Duolingo is a great app for your cellphone or tablet that will help you learn Spanish at your own pace. You can even create a group of friends or family members and learn together! Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in the United States.  

4. Learn More about this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month’s theme from the NCHEPM.

5. Baila (dance) to the rhythm of Latin-inspired music with this Low Impact Salsa Dance Cardio Exercise by Senior Fitness.

This article was written by Sabrina Minarik, Contract Administrator and DEI Advisor at the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan.