by Barbara Benjamin-Treviño
September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month. Originally a week long when Congress authorized President Lyndon Johnson to make this designation in 1968, the week was extended to a month in 1988. Since then, this time helps communities across the country better understand the culture and traditions of the Hispanic population—those who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico, and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
For those looking to engage the Hispanic community, especially at this time of year, there are symbolic and substantive ways to do so. Here are seven easy-to-implement strategies:
- Hold a reception in your school or organization and offer pan dulce (pahn DOOL-say), or sweet bread, now available at many supermarkets across the country
- Attend lectures, concerts, parades, exhibits, and receptions designated as special events throughout the month-long celebration. Colleges and universities often invite the local community to join in these activities. Check the local newspaper or your favorite website for listings.
- Co-sponsor an event—the community-wide Fiestas Patrias parade, for example—or at least attend one to get a sense of the celebration.
- Donate time or supplies to a nearby school or church.
- Place a banner at your school or place of business acknowledging Hispanic Heritage Month.
- Offer a special sale to your clients during this time.
- Join the nearest Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (www.ushcc.com).
The Hispanic population currently constitutes 15 percent of the
What, exactly, is “culture?” That question often arises when people become uncomfortable interacting with others. Cultural Savvy (www.culturalsavvy.com/culture/htm) offers the following three definitions:
1. Culture comes from the Latin word “colere,” meaning to build on, to cultivate, to foster.
2. Culture defines social structure, decision-making practices, and communication styles.
3. Culture is something we learn. It impacts everyone, and influences how we act and respond.
Most people associate culture with race, ethnicity, history, holiday, and food. While all of these are genuine aspects of culture, the term also includes many other aspects, such as humor, grief, family structure, space, and time. Â
Anthropologists Kevin Avruch and Peter Black offer an incisive definition of culture in an article entitled “Conflict Resolution in Intercultural Settings:”*
One’s own culture provides the “lens” through which we view the world; the “logic”…by which we order it; the “grammar…by which it makes sense. In other words, culture is central to what we see, how we make sense of what we see, and how we express ourselves.
Consider, for example, how people grieve. Is the grief expressed individually or communally? Is it manifested emotionally or borne silently? Where does it take place? Who participates? Who does not participate? What rituals are associated with it? How does it affect one’s standing in the family, in the community, in the legal system? One’s experiences and upbringing affect how one expresses grief, Culture is complex and often subliminal. And it affects communication in both profound and subtle ways.
Think about yourself and the many cultures to which you belong. How do you express yourself and how is this expression influenced by these various cultures? After you delve deeper into this examination it will be easier to identify and understand how this landscape affects others.
Barbara Benjamin-Treviño
Bentiva Education Solutions
barbara@bentiva.com, www.bentiva.com
 *“Conflict Resolution in Intercultural Settings: Problems and Prospects” in Conflict Resolution Theory and Practice: Integration and Application, edited by Dennis Sandole and Hugo van der Merwe.
