VA celebrates Hispanic Heritage month with the story of Vietnam Veteran Arnie Cardenas. Growing up in Uvalde, Texas, Army Veteran Cardenas and his eight siblings loved listening to the sounds of accordion maestro Tony de la Rosa and the Tex-Mex music flowing across nearby border towns like Laredo. As Cardenas grew older, his family got hooked on a new phenomenon sweeping the nation in the mid-1950s: Rock ‘n’ Roll. Read more at U.S. Veteran Affairs News

CHICAGO, IL – Holy Cross Hospital has joined the Peace and Wellness Coalition to host “Run The Lawn 5K: Healing In Motion” on Sunday, September 22nd in Marquette Park. Thanks to contributions from dozens of community stakeholders and partners, ‘Run the Lawn 5k’ and Wellness Fair will welcome community members from Chicago Lawn and the South Side of Chicago.

Holy Cross has joined the event to raise awareness of the hospital’s services, treatments and provide a chance for community members to meet Sinai physicians and leaders for any questions they have regarding their health.

“Holy Cross Hospital is excited to partner on this great event for the communities and patients surrounding our hospital,” said Dr. Jeen-Soo Chang, President of Holy Cross Hospital. “It’s a great opportunity for our physicians and leaders to talk with individuals and families in our neighborhood about our wide range of health services and specialties while also letting them know that we’re their neighbors and their health and well-being are our top priority.”

The free family-focused event will start with a 5k run in the morning with the option for a “Walk & Roll” that attendees can do at their own pace and with their families. The 5k will be followed by a Wellness Fair featuring health screenings and other tips from Holy Cross caregivers and other community organizations. The event will conclude with “Light in the Night” featuring musical performances and fun.

“This event is a collective project organized by our local coalition in the southwest side, the Peace and Wellness Coalition, which is made up of a diverse group of institutions ranging from public departments, elected officials, schools, churches, healthcare providers, faith-based institutions, and community-based organizations,” said Armando Mancilla, Director of Case Management & Community Organizing at the Southwest Organizing Project. “Our purpose is to collaborate with stakeholders to develop initiatives that increase and sustain peace and wellness across Chicago Lawn and surrounding communities”

For more information, visit runthelawn.com for registration for the 5k and the day’s festivities.

To celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, we’ve put together a reading list highlighting the arts and lives of Hispanic individuals from a range of countries and traditions. READ MORE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS

In the United States, Bitcoin is seen more as an investment instrument. What many people in the U.S. don't know that Latinos are the ones who invest the most in cryptocurrencies. Then it's followed by Blacks and then Whites. In Colombia and Mexico, you're seeing a lot of activity in using cryptocurrencies for remittances, because it's faster, cheaper and sometimes safer. READ MORE AT THE LATIN TIMES

Though Latinas have collectively seen socioeconomic gains, their educational and economic circumstances are varied. Younger Latinas and U.S.-born Latinas, for instance, are more likely to report having a bachelor’s degree than older and immigrant Latinas, respectively. Though labor force participation rates have increased in the last two decades for Latinas overall, some are more likely to be employed or seeking work. READ MORE AT PEW RESEARCH CENTER

September 15, the middle of September, means we're that much closer to Halloween and days away from it officially being fall. But it's the start of Hispanic Heritage Month as well.

Why does Hispanic Heritage Month begin mid-month?
The reason that Hispanic Heritage Month begins halfway through the month of September is that Sept. 15 is the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile's independence days also fall during the observation period (Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively). READ MORE AT PARADE

Each year from September 15 to October 15, Boys & Girls Clubs across the United States honor the history, cultures, struggles and triumphs of Hispanic and Latino Americans during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Knowing more about your unique heritage helps kids foster meaningful connections and pride within their communities. In fact, a recent survey commissioned by our partner, Ancestry, found that 88% of Spanish-speakers in the U.S. believe it is important to honor family history and heritage. Celebrating cultural traditions, language, music and cuisines cultivates a stronger sense of belonging and helps kids develop confidence. READ MORE AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA

More than 1.6 million Hispanics and Latinos are part of the military, including veterans, and 47% cite financial struggles as a top transitional challenge. The spouse of a Navy veteran is working to change cultural norms surrounding the topic of money.

Many military families who identify as Latino have cultural values like machismo, where males are predominately responsible for financial leadership in their family. READ MORE AT MILITARY FAMILIES MAGAZINE

Latinos have grown at the second-fastest rate of any major racial and ethnic group in the U.S. electorate since the last presidential election. An estimated 36.2 million are eligible to vote this year, up from 32.3 million in 2020. This represents 50% of the total growth in eligible voters during this time.

Every year, about 1.4 million Hispanics in the U.S. become eligible to vote. READ MORE AT PEW RESEARCH CENTER

September 15, the middle of September, means we're that much closer to Halloween and days away from it officially being fall. But it's the start of Hispanic Heritage Month as well. Also known as Latinx Heritage Month, it's a 30-day commemoration that celebrates the history, culture and contributions of "American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America," according to Emily Key, director of education at the Smithsonian Latino Center. 

Why does Hispanic Heritage Month begin mid-month? READ MORE AT PARADE

When kids and teens learn about cultures, they broaden their view of the world and deepen their understanding of others. Heritage is the story of where we come from and what we bring forward into our future.

Hispanic and Latino heritage is rich with history, culture and exciting contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans past and present. Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month offers families, teachers and afterschool providers an opportunity to explore these vibrant cultures. READ MORE AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF AMERICA

Investments from Latino and Latina-led venture capital firms contributed to the creation of an estimated 51,600 jobs last year, according to a new report. These gains come even as Latinos and other people of color remain deeply underrepresented in the VC world. Last year, Latinos and Latinas represented 1.6% of all investment professionals in larger U.S. firms, or those managing more than $100 million in assets, according to the new report from SomosVC, a nonprofit pushing for greater representation. READ MORE AT AXIOS

We’ve enjoyed an impressive run of fact-based sports sagas during the past year — “Nyad,” “The Boys in the Boat” and “The Young Woman and the Sea” leap to mind — but in terms of amazing actual events, this one’s the best. READ MORE AT THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE

During the summer, when Hollywood produces blockbusters that cater to those on vacation from school and looking to beat the heat, Latinos are consistently the group that boosts box office success. In an industry coming under increasing pressure from streaming platforms and strikes, Hollywood’s Latino fans are the most avid moviegoers per capita in the U.S. READ MORE AT NBC NEWS

Over the past few decades, Latinos have become the largest racial or ethnic minority in the United States, making up nearly 20 percent of the country’s population. Despite that, many Latinos feel alienated by our medical system, due to cultural and language barriers, and a lack of Latino physicians — and those barriers can have a real impact on their overall health. READ MORE AT PBS

Foreign-born Hispanic or Latino workers made up 8.2 percent of the employed U.S. workforce, but 14.0 percent of work-related deaths in 2021. Fatal injuries to this group were most prevalent in the field of construction, with falls, slips, and trips being the most frequent event leading to death. READ MORE AT U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Yoloxochitl “Yolo” Lopez DeMarco is one of the many Hispanics in the Region who is taking her financial future into her own hands. Her company is among the 5 million Latino/Hispanic-owned businesses nationwide generating more than $800 billion in annual revenue, according to a report by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. READ MORE AT NORTHWEST INDIANA BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Building a diverse workforce representative of today’s homebuyers is more than just good business strategy, it’s a moral obligation for the housing industry. The demographics of first-time homebuyers in this country are shifting, with Latinos playing an increasingly significant role. READ MORE AT HOUSINGWIRE

While the number of Latinos — the nation’s largest minority group — graduating college has increased in the last two decades, they remain underpaid and underrepresented in the workforce, a reality that may require more Latinos in positions of power to facilitate change. READ MORE AT ASSOCIATED PRESS

Latino/a entrepreneurs continue to be a force for economic development in the United States: They own 4.7 million businesses that generate more than $800 billion annually. But they are not monolithic. A new report highlights the role played by women, immigrants, and new technologies in the growth of Latino/a-owned businesses. READ MORE AT THE STANFORD REPORT