Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at Limbach
As Hispanic Heritage Month approaches an end, let’s close with a final cheer!
The History of Hispanic Heritage Month
This month was established by President Lyndon John and then expanded by Ronald Reagan in 1988. It stretches from September 15th through October 15th nationwide, celebrating diverse cultures. Limbach’s employee resource group, Unidos has organized several events for everyone to join in the fun. Hear directly from the leaders of UNIDOS, Idalmis Román, Chassidy Chanza, and Zuleyka Valdez-Carrion, to gain insight into Hispanic Heritage Month and learn more about UNIDOS. Don’t forget to check out the Limbach Unlocked podcast, featuring Idalmis diving into Unidos purpose and mission.
The History of Hispanic Heritage Month
Unidos was created in 2022 by a team of dedicated individuals who wanted to empower and support Hispanic community members. Their goal was to create a safe space to interact, celebrate Hispanic culture, and create meaningful change in the company and the community. This ERG is an inclusive group open to all employees, including those of Hispanic and non-Hispanic backgrounds. Participation in Unidos meetings and events, or actively advocating for the group, is the ticket in. The future of Unidos envisions spreading advocacy throughout the company and the local community, creating even more unique events for employees to enjoy and engage in the fun. Zuleyka emphasized that Unidos represents “The opportunity to create a more inclusive culture by educating and celebrating our differences.”
Hispanic Heritage Month Events at Limbach
To kickstart this month-long celebration, UNIDOS gathered employees to share the uniqueness of the different Hispanic cultures represented in our Company. In addition, each branch hosted a potluck where everyone contributed their favorite Hispanic dishes and was provided with gift bags celebrating Hispanic cuisine. At another event, everyone put on their dancing shoes for a virtual family Bachata dance class led by Salsa with Silvia. While speaking with the Unidos Leaders, Idalmis, Chassidy, and Zuleyka, all emphasized the importance that this employee resource group meant to them and how it has provided them with the resources to be able to make an impact within our Company and create a culture of belonging and inclusivity for our Hispanic employees. When asked how we can celebrate Hispanic Heritage year-round, Chassidy suggested, “Being exposed to Hispanic culture is as simple as trying our food or interacting with someone with a Hispanic background.”
To learn more about Unidos and other employee resource groups, visit our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging page.
