Activities To Kick Off with Inclusiveness, Inspiration, Education
“A Seat at the Table” – words to evoke the idea of inclusiveness, a place for everyone – is Texas Health’s theme for Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 – Oct. 15.
Diversity Action Teams’ activities include a panel discussion (see below) on Sept. 15, an online trivia quiz and educational games, with trivia wheels on hospital campuses.
Hispanic foods will be available in cafeterias.
Please take the time to participate in these activities to honor and celebrate the many contributions made by Hispanics that have shaped our country and strengthened our communities.
Texas Health’s theme is a variation on the national one: “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.”
Hispanic Heritage Month began as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 but was expanded in 1988. There has been debate over whether “Hispanic” is the correct term, with some groups preferring Latinx.
Hispanic culture encompasses 20 nations: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela, plus the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.
Several of those countries celebrate independence from Spain on Sept. 15-18: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, Sept. 15; Mexico, Sept. 16; and Chile, Sept. 18.
In Mexico, one of the traditional celebrations is El Grito de La Independencia (The Cry of Independence), which is led by the president of Mexico at the national level but also led at the state and municipal levels, including schools. El Grito marks the beginning of the fight for independence and takes place Sept 15, the eve of Independence Day.
In Chile, Independence Day is celebrated with barbecues and fondas (large parties usually celebrated in large venues and parks), enjoying traditional foods and drinks such as empanadas and chicha, an indigenous beverage that dates back to the 1400s.
To learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month, visit these websites:
- https://hispanicheritagemonth.gov/
- https://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/national-hispanic-heritage-month/
The National Archives offers more resources on Hispanic/Latino heritage; find them here.
Coming Up: Hispanic Leaders Panel Discussion
A panel discussion aimed at inspiring next-generation Hispanic leaders at Texas Health will be 4 – 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15. The event kicks off this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration and will be livestreamed via Teams and recorded. Hospital DATs also plan to set up areas where groups can view the livestream. Contact your DAT coordinator for details.
Panelists will be members of the area chapter of the National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives (NALHE) and three Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano employees: Vanessa Lozada, B.S.N., R.N., SANE, the hospital’s Emergency Department director; Jose Zamora, B.S.N., R.N., nurse manager; and Francine Lane, Timekeeping.
The NALHE panelists are:
- George Avila, NALHE president and system vice president of mission integration, CHRISTUS Health, Irving
- Jackie Sifuentes, NALHE president-elect, a scheduling capacity analyst II at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
- Chris Burciaga, NALHE secretary, president of Environmental Services, Capital Division, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthcare Division
- Fernando Moreno, NAHLE treasurer, vice president and chief financial officer, International Division, CHRISTUS Health
- Lorie Thibodeaux, founder and immediate past president of NAHLE, senior system level performance improvement manager, Parkland Hospital.
Published September 12, 2022
