2023 Hispanic Heritage Month Honors Hispanic Heroes, Allies, and Activists

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#AISDHHM2023 will celebrate Hispanics’ diversity, culture, traditions, and contributions.

National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates a diverse group of people. They trace their roots to Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries around the world.

Of the district’s student population, nearly 75% are Hispanic. They represent many Spanish-speaking countries.

From September 15 to October 15, Aldine ISD and the rest of the country celebrate the achievements and contributions of the Hispanic community. This year’s theme celebrates Hispanic Heroes, Allies, and Activists.

District Administrative Activities

While students in schools will enjoy planned activities, district leaders will also take part in celebrating the rich, diverse cultures and traditions of Hispanics. Special events and activities will be held at the Donaldson Administration Building (DAB) and the Bamberg Professional Development and Resource Center (BAM). Staff at both buildings will receive an email internally with full details on how they can join and take part in the activities planned.

Planned Activities

• Week of September 15: Book Lotería Starts on September 15 and ends on October 12. Click here to download the Book Lotería PDF.
• Week of Sept. 18-22: District art students will create cultural art walls representative of Héroes Hispanos. The visual and performing arts, science, literature, and sports world will be represented. The cultural art wall displays will be at the DAB and BAM buildings until October 15.
  • Friday, September 22: On September 22, wear your best outfit representing your Hispanic hero, ally, or activist (this year’s theme)!
• Week of Sept. 26-30: Harvard graduate and experienced educator, researcher, facilitator, change management strategist, and leadership development specialist Dr. Verónica Benavides will be the keynote speaker for a virtual lunch and learn session on September 29.
  • Click on the link to join virtually: https://shorturl.at/bdNT4.
• Week of October 2-6: Hispanic food will be served during the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) on October 5, alongside the musical sounds and voices of AISD’s Mariachi Acero. Click here to hear a snippet of the talented students.
• Week of Oct. 9-13: The Hispanic community that has been improving the well-being of Americans can be found across the United States. Taken together, the contributions of the more than 62 million Hispanic Americans living in the United States today are evident across communities through music, art, and food, but also through the social and political contributions made for the betterment of the country. Below, you will find multiple organizations serving Hispanic communities in Houston and throughout the states.

Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans
aama.org

Association of Latino Professionals for America
alpfa.org

BakerRipley
bakerripley.org

Bilingual Generation
bilingualgeneration.org

Hispanic Forum
hispanic-forum.org

Hispanic Health Coalition
Hispanic-Health.org

Houston Hispanic Chamber
houstonhispanicchamber.com

Latin Women’s Initiative
latinwomensinitiative.org

Click here to view and download a PDF of planned events.

Latinos for Education
latinosforeducation.org

Racial Equity Institute
racialequityinstitute.org

Texas Association for Bilingual Education
tabe.org

Share on Social Media: #AISDHHM23 and #MyAldine or #MiAldine

Be sure to share on social media how you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Include the hashtags #AISDHHM23, #MyAldine, or #MiAldine.

A Few Facts

• Spanish has the second largest number of speakers around the world. From Asia to the Americas, many places speak Spanish, with over 500 million speakers worldwide.
• The number of Spanish speakers worldwide is growing From Spanish-speaking countries in Africa to Spanish-speaking countries in Asia. According to the Pew Research Centre, in the U.S. alone, the number of speakers has increased by 233% since 1980. The Cervantes Institute predicts that the population in officially Spanish-speaking nations will reach 750 million by 2050.

By the Numbers

• Spanish is second only to Chinese in terms of the most spoken languages in the world.
• According to the official U.S. census, the United States will have the highest number of Spanish speakers in the world after Mexico by 2060, and around 28.6% of the population will be Hispanic.
• Houston’s Hispanic population is increasing rapidly as more Latin American immigrants move to the area to work. Houston now has the 3rd largest Hispanic population in the United States after New York and Los Angeles.

Brief History About Hispanic Heritage Day

President Lyndon B. Johnson first introduced National Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968. As cited in President Johnson’s 1968 Proclamation, September 15 is when five Latin American countries — Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua — earned independence from Spain in 1821. Mexico and Chile became independent from Spain on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Belize became independent from the United Kingdom on September 21.

We Are More Alike Than Different

Hispanic and Latino-Americans can have European, Jewish, African, Asian, and indigenous ancestry.

Celebrate!

The district encourages everyone to learn about Hispanics’ various cultures, customs, traditions, and history.

¡Siéntete orgulloso de tus raíces! — Be proud of your roots!

Online Resources

There are many online resources to learn more about the history and contributions of Hispanics. Below are a few examples:

PBS — Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month
PBS — PBS Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month 2023 With New Programs and Digital Activations
PBS — Latino Americans (English)
PBS — Latino Americanos (en español)
Smithsonian — Hispanic Heritage Month
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino
Smithsonian Family and Public Programs
Smithsonian Explores History and Experiences of Black Latinos in the United States Afro-Latino Experience — Smithsonian Institute
Latino experience is in focus at African American History and Culture Museum — Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
Teaching Tolerance — Latino Civil Rights Timeline

The following are just a few classroom ideas:

National Hispanic Heritage Month: Ideas for Teachers
Colorín Colorado Hispanic Heritage Month
We Teach
EDSITEment! — Hispanic Heritage and History in the United States
Poets.org — Lessons for Hispanic Heritage Month