Go Beyond Lip Service: How to Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month

Colorado's Xero shares how they use a day of commemoration as a vehicle for inclusion.
Written by Erik Fassnacht
September 8, 2021Updated: September 8, 2021

When it comes to diversity and inclusion, numbers matter. Yet to improve those numbers, more than lip service is needed.

According to recent Pew Research Center data, Hispanic and Latino Americans account for over 60 million people in the United States and over 18 percent of the total population. However, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that this demographic only accounts for 8 percent of the entire American tech industry. 

In an ongoing effort to create a more diverse and inclusive community, many tech companies are taking the time to honor National Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins on September 15. As a way to embrace both the culture and contributions of Hispanics and Latino Americans in the United States, this month marks a clear reason to celebrate — but there is also much work to do.

To learn more about how tech companies are observing National Hispanic Heritage Month — and doing so in a way that is authentic and meaningful as opposed to mere lip service — Built In Colorado sat down with Xero Partner Consultant Manager Heidi Pérez-Vidal, who shared all the unique things her company is doing to embrace the cultural contributions of the second-most populous demographic in America.

 

Why September 15?

September 15 was chosen as the beginning of the National Hispanic Heritage Month because it is the independence anniversary of five Hispanic countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Furthermore, Mexico, Chile and Belize celebrate their independence on September 16, 18 and 21, respectively.

 

National Hispanic Heritage Month
shutterstock

 

Heidi Pérez-Vidal
Partner Consultant Manager • Xero

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, what is your company doing this year to celebrate and honor the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans throughout history? 

In the inaugural year of launching Xero’s Hispanic and Latin employee resource group (ERG), we have planned out a host of activities during National Hispanic Heritage Month that focus on the meaning of the ERG for us as individuals, and also what it means to be human. Our theme will be centered around “Los Humanos de Xero” and will include a customer spotlight as well as several blog posts from members of the ERG.

 

We have planned out a host of activities during National Hispanic Heritage Month that focus on the meaning of the ERG for us as individuals, and also what it means to be human.

 

What other activities or charitable initiatives do you have planned for Hispanic Heritage Month?

As part of the celebrations, we will have multiple “fun fact” posts that will highlight and celebrate Hispanic and Latin individuals and the culture, as well as sharing easy and delicious traditional recipes, spotlight a Xero small business customer or partner who has a positive impact in the community and publish several blog posts from our own Hispanic and Latin Xero community members. We will also be partnering with the Latino Tax Professionals organization and presenting at their annual tax event, covering educational content to help Latino tax professionals how to leverage technology to work closer with their small business clients.

 

What are some ongoing programs, initiatives or benefits your company offers to support and empower Hispanic and Latino employees throughout the year?

Xero is committed to providing a diverse, inclusive and equalitarian workplace for everyone. To drive forward that initiative this year, we launched a number of ERGs which includes the Los Xeros ERG — a Hispanic and Latin ERG for those who identify as Hispanic and Latin, who support the Hispanic and Latin community and who want to be an ally, learn more about the culture and have a good time!

Last year, we launched our U.S. Hispanic team to support the growing Hispanic community in the U.S. The team focuses on providing education materials to our community of Hispanic accountants and bookkeepers and the small businesses they work with. It’s our priority to continue empowering our Hispanic accountants and advisors through more education and events in Spanish, such as product training, webinars and more, and help them get started with Xero’s cloud accounting platform.

We are committed to partnering with accounting professionals in the Hispanic community to help them find new ways to support their small business clients and empower them to thrive.

 

 

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