With the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month beginning on Sept. 15, it is important for organizations to understand the diversity of the Hispanic and Latinx communities in order to authentically and inclusively celebrate their accomplishments. Hispanic Heritage Month was first celebrated in recognition of the many contributions made by the Hispanic community to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods and much more.

The month is officially termed Hispanic Heritage Month, but in many cases, this is a misnomer. “Hispanic” means of Spanish origin, a term long used to trace lineage from Spain and identify as more European. Specific areas of Central and South America were more influenced by the native communities that founded civilization there rather than by Spanish colonists, so the term can sometimes be received as an inappropriate or even disrespectful. Latino/a is typically used to describe people who have ancestry from the Spanish-speaking territories of North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Still, there are significant cultural differences among the communities that make up Latinidad, which should be recognized when celebrating the history and achievement of individuals during Hispanic Heritage Month.

With that understanding in mind, organizations can move beyond surface-level recognition and take meaningful steps to honor the month. Here are three key “dos” to guide authentic and respectful celebrations.

Do: Correctly Identify the Associated Cultural Group 

• Speak intentionally to the audience that you mean. If you do not know which community your employees identify with, ask them.
• Be intentional in your word choice because they each have significantly different meanings.
• Avoid generalizations. An inaccurate attempt to represent a community can reinforce stereotypes.
• If your employees are from Venezuela and Colombia, highlight the ways that those specific cultures have impacted American history. Celebrate in a way that pays tribute to cultural elements such as the language, music, food and community traditions.

If you are inaccurately representing the cultures at your organization, the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month may feel like a lazy attempt at inclusion that ignores the true identity of the employees and their culture.

Do: Celebrate the Accomplishments of Hispanic and Latinx Employees Beyond Hispanic Heritage Month

Organization efforts to highlight Hispanic and Latinx employees should happen all year round with an extra emphasis placed on Hispanic Heritage Month.

• Acknowledge the successes of Hispanic and Latinx employees in a way that makes them feel supported, valued and seen, especially since exclusion and minimization of contributions can greatly impact employee satisfaction and eventually retention.
• Understand what members of marginalized communities have to go through in order to stand in the same place as those from the dominant group and take steps to ensure that pathways to leadership and achievement are equitable.
• Company values should always be reflected in company actions, otherwise values risk becoming empty words.

If a company values diversity, equity and inclusion, then stakeholders should see actions that support these claims year-round, not just in an obligatory social media post about Hispanic Heritage Month.

Do: Celebrate Wins in a Way that Feels Authentic and Appropriate

• Avoid “theming” that relies on generalizations and stereotypes, such as food choice, decor and verbiage.
• Represent the workforce that you have and celebrate the cultures that are actually present in your organization.
• Encourage employees to share their culture if they wish and listen to their guidance.
• Ask employees how they would like their accomplishments recognized in a way that respects to their culture.

Make sincerity the priority and take the extra step to ensure authentic and appropriate forms of celebrating Hispanic and Latinx accomplishments.

Overall, Hispanic Heritage Month is a valuable opportunity to highlight the voices of Hispanic and Latino/a individuals and celebrate their hard-earned accomplishments. Companies that value a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace should be intentional about how they discuss and recognize employees during Hispanic Heritage Month in a way that is authentic and culturally conscious.

Leila Medina is an assistance account executive based in Orlando, Florida.