Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month
Q2's mission to build strong and diverse communities resonates during National Hispanic Heritage Month in the U.S., which honors the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans as we celebrate the heritage rooted in all Latin American countries. Three Q2 team members shared what the month means to them.
Echale muchas ganas mijita
Mirtha Perez, Senior Implementation EngineerWho is an influential Hispanic figure you admire?
One influential Hispanic figure I admire is Nora de Hoyos Comstock, Founder of Las Comadres Para Las Americas. Her passion for building community and sharing resources has led Las Comadres to grow on a daily basis, empowering Latinas to build personal and professional relationships with one another through online and face-to-face networks. I have been fortunate to work closely with Nora while serving as National Membership Coordinator for Las Comadres for the last four years, though I have been part of Las Comadres since 2005. Nora's dedication to creating a supportive and empowering community for Latinas is truly inspiring.
What do you teach your children about Hispanic Heritage?
As a parent, I try to teach my children about Hispanic Heritage by sharing with them the traditions and customs I grew up with. For example, we celebrate both of my kids' birthdays during Hispanic Heritage month with a piñata filled with candy. We also visit the local Mexican meat market a few times a year to buy Mexican chips and candies, and my mom comes to Austin to bring us tamales from the Rio Grande Valley. We also make fresh flour tortillas with her, which is a special experience that we all enjoy.
In addition to these activities, I've also bought my children books like Nuestra America, which features 30 inspiring Latinas/Latinos who have shaped the United States. By exposing them to these stories and experiences, I hope to instill in them a sense of pride in their heritage and an appreciation for the contributions that Hispanic Americans have made to our country.
What life/career accomplishments are you most proud of?
When it comes to life and career accomplishments, I'm most proud of becoming a mom and having a strong work ethic. Being a mom has been both challenging and rewarding, and it has taught me so much about the sacrifices my parents made to ensure my sisters and I went to college and earned a degree. Coming from Mexico to South Texas when I was five, my parents did not speak English, and my mom worked at Haggar's warehouse for most of my childhood, while my dad was a construction worker. Despite the challenges, my parents instilled in me a strong work ethic, and I always remember my dad's words, "echale muchas ganas mijita," which translates to "work hard" or "give it your all."
Influence and Contribution
Jaime Dominguez, Principal Product MarketerWho is an influential Hispanic figure you admire?
My parents personify what we all think of as the American dream. They left a comfortable life in Ecuador to come to a country they knew nothing about. They worked hard to make it on their own and ultimately gave my sisters and me the work ethic and morals required to push forward.
My dad started working in a company soldering lamps and eventually started his own business with a $50K bank loan. He grew the business to millions and became the first Hispanic to own an employment agency in the city of Chicago.
Meanwhile, my mom passed a test with Blue Cross and Blue Shield with her broken English to process claims. She ultimately ran the billing department for a midsize clinic.
Everything they did taught me three important things. First, treat others as you want to be treated. Second, money buys convenience, but not happiness. Lastly, the only thing holding you back from achieving your goals is you.
Why is it important to maintain a focus on sharing and educating others about Hispanic Heritage?
It's vital to maintain a focus on sharing and educating others about Hispanic Heritage because it fosters a deeper understanding of who we are as a community, where we come from, and the contributions we've made to society. By sharing our heritage, we can help create a more inclusive and diverse society that values all cultures and traditions. This knowledge also helps us move forward in unity, making us a stronger nation that is better equipped to tackle the challenges we face together. Ultimately, sharing and educating others about Hispanic Heritage is about celebrating the richness and diversity of our community and creating a more inclusive and equitable society for all.
How does Hispanic Heritage relate to the digital financial services industry?
The Hispanic community is increasingly becoming a significant influence in the US economy. With a GDP contribution of around $3.2 trillion, we've seen a 14% year-over-year increase, which is 2.5 times faster than that of non-Latinx equivalents. Our purchasing power has also risen to approximately $3.4 trillion. These impressive numbers demonstrate the need for banking to pay attention to this growing demographic. As digital banking continues to play a significant role in how we bank, it is essential to recognize that it is crucial to this segment of the population.
Making a Difference
Raul Mendoza, Senior Project ManagerWho is an influential Hispanic figure you admire, and why?
Dr. Jesus Kumate was a remarkable Mexican surgeon who became Secretary of Health and oversaw the implementation of universal vaccination in Mexico. I admire him for his leadership skills and his significant contributions to the field of medicine. Thanks to his efforts, Polio was eradicated in Mexico. His work has left a lasting impact, inspiring future generations of healthcare professionals and influencing public health policies in Mexico and beyond. Dr. Kumate's legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of public health and the crucial role that healthcare professionals play in improving the well-being of communities around the world.
How do you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?
Every year on September 16, we celebrate Mexican Independence Day by gathering with friends and family to enjoy traditional food, music, and dance. It's a time to reflect on the importance of culture and history, and to appreciate the diverse traditions that make the Hispanic community so vibrant and unique. Beyond this, I also make an effort to learn more about other Hispanic cultures and celebrate their traditions as well. Overall, Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to come together and celebrate the diversity and richness of our communities.
Do you have any advice for younger generations that are joining the workforce?
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.