One of the best parts of the fall season is the annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Kicking off mid-September, the time is spent honoring Latino and Hispanic Americans and the incredible contributions they have made to the United States. From famous leaders to public figures and entrepreneurs, many Hispanic and Latino Americans have helped pave the way for themselves, their culture and their families here in the U.S. The list is long – and impressive – so let’s start by recognizing a few Hispanic female trailblazers who continue to inspire and influence the world around them.
Alida Garcia is a political & public affairs strategist for electoral & issue advocacy campaigns with an expertise in Latino civic engagement, and Latino infrastructure building in non-Latino institutions. She currently is the Director of Coalitions & Policy for FWD.us, a tech advocacy organization founded by Mark Zuckerberg focused on passing comprehensive immigration reform and spurring innovation in technology to increase citizen participation in the legislative process. Bio & Image via alidagarcia.com
Anna Maria Chávez Growing up in Arizona, Chávez was a Girl Scout starting at a young age – and she has been dedicated to making the world a better place ever since. With an education from Yale and a career in law and politics, she now serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the Girl Scouts. She is the first Latina woman to lead the organization.
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My girl Eva Longoria is not only an accomplished Hollywood actress, she’s also a philanthropist of the best kind. Co-chairing President Obama’s re-election campaign, she has been outspoken and supportive of Latino Americans. Just days ago, Longoria kicked off a new campaign called #TheFirsts set to recognize the accomplishments of Latino families. “The Firsts Campaign is meant to celebrate Latinos who were first in their families to achieve milestones, such as graduating from high school or college, opening their own businesses or being the first to vote. It also calls on Hispanics to share their own “firsts” stories.” (via NBC)
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What’s your favorite way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?
