Arizonans Reflect on National Hispanic Heritage Month

Phoenix -- Hispanic Heritage month is 30 days of recognition for the achievements of Hispanic leaders all over the country. Iconic leaders such as Cesar Chavez who was an activist for farm workers, Dolores Huerta a civil rights activist, Raul Castro who was Arizona’s first Hispanic governor, Lydia Guzman an activist and defender of human rights, and Ed Pastor who was Arizona’s first Latino member of congress; have all paved the way for Hispanics in the U.S.

Arizonans of Hispanic heritage have influenced many aspects such as the art and entertainment industries, education, science, business and politics to name a few.

Hispanics make up one-third of Arizona’s population and it is no surprise that celebrations have been taking place throughout the state.

Gov. Doug Ducey recently joined governors from North Carolina, California, Virginia as well as President Joe Biden in recognizing the work of the Hispanic communities they each serve.

Ducey officially proclaimed at the state Capitol that Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 is Hispanic Heritage month in Arizona.

“Our state is home to more than 2.3 million Arizonans of Hispanic descent, whose contributions in public service, public safety, health care, business, art and so much more help foster opportunity and growth throughout Arizona,” Ducey said. “This Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate and recognize the many ways Arizona’s Hispanic communities strengthen our economy, enrich our culture and help make our state the greatest place to live, work and build a family. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month, Arizona.”

Governor’s support and recognition are especially valuable during a time when the Hispanic community is booming as he pointed out in his speech. The group makes up nearly 31% of the state’s population according to reports from the U.S. Census.

Leaders such as Vice Mayor Carlos Garcia, have participated in social justice movements and protests that involved ending police brutality. His work as an activist has advocated for the voiceless in times of need with the Puente organization. Garcia’s Vice Mayor leadership role as part of the Phoenix City Council, has allowed the Financial Assistance for Phoenix Families Program and the Community Wireless Network Project to help many local families.

Felipe Corral, a sports broadcast TV personality, is well known in the community for his work in highlighting young athletes in Phoenix for the Univision Television network. Many organizations have helped student athletes with scholarships and encouraged them to reach for a better future because of Corral’s TV coverage.

Another proud Hispanic, Leonor Aispuro, is a local Mexican- American fashion designer. She brings to every customer a taste of her culture into every design. Aispuro recently showcased her designs at Tempe Fashion Week and selected models who represented women and men of all shapes and sizes.

The contributions in retail-fashion, restaurants and local small business have continued to show throughout the years that Hispanics have played an important role in the state's economic prosperity, as Ducey recognized in a 2019 news release along with the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and their annual DATOS report.

Students and professors at Arizona State University are also working to make sure that National Hispanic Heritage month continues to be celebrated throughout the entire year with their work in journalism.

“When I came to Cronkite as a transfer student from a community college, I was very excited to pursue my degree in journalism. I tried to look for other Latino/ Hispanic students in my classes but there were only three of us at most which really frustrated me and made me feel alone,” said Alexandra Mora Medina, President of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists at ASU.

Medina looked for support and a place where she felt comfortable to be herself while feeling a sense of belonging at the university through her work with the NAHJ. The club offers ways for students to connect and meet professionals in the mainstream media who also share a passion for journalism while uplifting their Hispanic community members to further their careers through mentorships, scholarships and events.

“I would say there are some cities that do acknowledge Hispanic Heritage Month more than others, although the state should really recognize it more. Especially since a large majority of the population is made up of Hispanic/ Latinos,” Medina said. “I think the state could do more when it comes to recognizing our Hispanic/ Latino leaders and community members. A great start would be with the implementation of ethnic studies.”

Vanessa Ruiz, the Director for Diversity and Initiatives & Community Engagement at ASU, is also committed to helping the Hispanic community at the university level. She mentor’s students who just like her have been guided by the need to help their community thrive through the journalism work they produce.

“Hispanic Heritage Month is just one way we recognize the contributions and the rich cultural history that Latinos/ Hispanics have in the United States. We are part of the fabric of this country and just like any other immigrant group, Hispanics/ Latinos want to prosper and contribute for the advancement of their families and their communities,” Ruiz said.