Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Month at Marqeta was a time of celebration and recognition of the contributions of our Hispanic and Latinx colleagues. The month was guided by the Hola ERG's chosen theme, Empowering and Amplifying Latinx & Hispanic Marqetans. This theme resonated deeply with the national sentiment of the 2023 National theme: Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America.
Our goal was not just to celebrate but also to recognize the immense value and inspiration the Hispanic and Latinx community brings to our collective journey. We are truly proud of the HOLA ERG for creating an inclusive environment, one that showcases the backgrounds, experiences, and journeys that Hispanic and Latinx individuals bring to Marqeta.
“For me, stepping into work every day is not just based on my professional career, skills, and educational background. It is also the culmination of my experiences as a Latinx that I also bring to the table - my abuelita’s determination, my mama’s creativity, and my tia’s perseverance - those are skills that are priceless.”
Here’s a brief look back at some of the events that allowed us to immerse ourselves in the resilience, perseverance, and diversity of Hispanic/Latinx culture:
A Glimpse of Hola ERG's Events:
- Self-Advocacy Workshop with Rosa Revuelta: Rosa, leadership coach and consultant, shared invaluable insights on self-advocacy for Latinx professionals. Through this workshop, participants were equipped with tools and strategies to regain their power in workplaces that often marginalize them.
- Fireside Chat with Ileana Aguinis: An enriching conversation with our very own VP Deputy General Counsel, Ileana Aguinis, on the challenges and triumphs of navigating one’s career as a Latinx and immigrant. Ileana's candid revelations and invaluable advice were a source of inspiration for many.
When asked what she has learned in her career, Ileana said. “I remain true to my values. Immigrants, generally immigrants and women, tend to take it all on and never say no. So one of the things that I learned was to continue to work very hard. Set boundaries but also remain curious and open.”
When asked about imposter syndrome, Ileana shared, “Yes, I have experienced imposter syndrome and for those who haven't, that means you haven't stretched yourself enough. People who are growing will all feel that at some point.”
- Intersectionality Book Club & Discussion: Celebrating both Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month and National Coming Out Day, the Hola ERG collaborated with our MQ Proud ERG to highlight the intersection of various identities. Participants delved into a thoughtful discussion on "Juliet Takes a Breath" by Gabby Rivera.
We look forward to continuing the spirit of celebration, inclusivity, and recognition throughout the year. Let's carry forward the inspiration from this past month and keep amplifying the voices of our Latinx & Hispanic colleagues.
Alongside the programming, Marqetans celebrated their culture throughout the month with various engagements.
Check out what they’ve been up to below!
Indira Cortes, Legal Operations Sr. Manager, visited her son’s bilingual school to speak to her experiences and love for her Puerto Rican culture.
Marissa Palmer, Senior Information Security and Risk Management leader, was featured in the Latinas in Cyber newsletter as she spoke about showing up as your authentic self, and that there is no such thing as being "too Latina".
"When we don’t fully embrace who we are, we end up apologizing for our very existence."
Though the month allowed critical moments to connect, learn, and take action, it does not end here. With the month coming to a close, we invite fellow Marqetans and those reading this blog to continue to support, learn, and take action for Latinx & Hispanic Communities. To help get you started, we’ve crafted this list for you to explore (please note this is just a starting point):
Understand the differences:
- The terms “Hispanic” and “Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latiné” are not interchangeable: Spanish is a gendered language, so “Latino” and “Latina” are common, while “Latinx and Latiné” have been adopted as gender-neutral or nonbinary identifiers. You may also hear the terms “Chicano,” “Chicana,” “Chicanx,” and/or “Chicané” from folks who identify with family or are descendants from Mexico. Additionally, many people identify directly with their own or their ancestors’ country of origin.
Learning Materials
- Read Undocumented
by Dan-el Padilla Peralta
Community Support:
To support the community, you can consider making direct monetary donations, attending events, volunteering, or amplifying the missions and initiatives of the organizations below.
- Description: Provides scholarships for Latino students, as well as a range of support services for students and parents.
- Description: Focuses on immigrant youth and aims to address the inequities and obstacles faced by immigrant youth. They empower young immigrants to lead and develop their leadership skills.
- Description: A Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the "law firm of the Latino community", MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation.
- Description: Delivers quality health services and programs, promoting excellence in health, and creating partnerships with communities, researchers, government, and media.
