Latino Heritage Month: 30 Micro-Actions to Make a Big Impact

Latino Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15 to October 15, is often marked with hashtags, playlists, or a single office celebration. But for a community that makes up a $4.1 trillion economy, a rapidly growing electorate, and a cultural force that shapes the nation daily, surface-level recognition doesn’t quite do justice. 

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This observance was first established in 1968 as a weeklong celebration under President Lyndon B. Johnson and later expanded into a month in 1988 under President Ronald Reagan. Its purpose has always been clear: to recognize the histories, contributions, and cultural impact of Latinos in the United States.

But recognition without action falls short, especially now. As the Latino community faces renewed attacks under the Trump administration’s policies, many people are asking themselves how they can do more. For those looking to take action, Latino Heritage Month can be approached as a month of impact; a commitment to intentional, everyday choices that strengthen and empower their local Latino community.

Don’t know where to start? Here are a few ideas:

Celebrate Through Culture and Consumption

• Culture is resistance, and consumption is power. Supporting Latino-owned businesses keeps money circulating in Latino communities and empowers them. 

• Buy cafecito from a Latine-owned coffee shop. Intentionalist makes it easy to find Latino-owned businesses near you, from coffee shops to gyms. 

• Stream a movie or series by a Latine filmmaker. 

• Grab lunch or dinner from a local Latino restaurant or vendor. 

• Visit a local mercado or tiendita and share your finds. This kind of organic word-of-mouth marketing can be invaluable for small Latino-owned businesses. 

• Support an Afro-Latino-owned brand. 

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• Order books from a Latino-owned bookstore or support Latine authors by purchasing their books. 

• Write a Yelp review for a small Latino business you love; it helps visibility more than you think.

Learn and Amplify

Representation requires more than visibility; it also demands amplification. There’s a lot to learn from Latino artists, thinkers, and storytellers, and their work should be passed forward. 

• Read a book by a Latine author. Review it online, share it on social media, and recommend it widely. 

• Follow five new Latino journalists or creators on social media to diversify your feed.  

• Share a playlist of classic and new Latino artists.

• Watch a documentary on Latino history in your state or share articles that highlight local Latino history. 

• Learn about Indigenous and Afro-Latino roots within your community.

• Add Latine voices to your podcast rotation. You can also help amplify them by sharing them on your socials and explaining why they resonate with you. 

• Share a quote from a Latine poet, writer, or activist with your inner circle or online. This could encourage people to check out and support their work.

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Civic Power in Action

Cultural celebration means little without civic engagement. Our votes, voices, and dollars can reshape policies that impact Latino communities the most.

• Register to vote or verify your status, and encourage your family and friends to do the same. 

• Call your representative about an issue that affects Latino communities, such as housing, healthcare, or immigration.

• Sign up for a local school board or city council meeting, where it’s possible to advocate for bilingual programs, culturally relevant curricula, housing protections, healthcare access, and small business support for Latinos. 

• Donate $10 or whatever you can to a Latino grassroots organization.

• Host a voter registration drive at your church, college, or community center.

• Share bilingual resources in your WhatsApp chat groups or on social media, such as infographics about policy changes, Know Your Rights cards, voter resources, and more. 

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• Research your local candidates’ platforms to understand their stance on education and equity, and share it with your immediate circle to spread awareness. 

Mentor, Support, and Sustain

Sustaining community power means building bridges for the next generation. Here are ways you can help do that: 

• Offer mentorship to a first-gen student or young professional. Sharing your knowledge and expertise can be invaluable to young Latinos. 

• Volunteer an hour with a Latino nonprofit.

• Donate professional clothes to a local career center. 

• Sponsor or attend a youth sports or arts program near you. 

• Give one piece of career or life advice you wish someone would’ve shared with you to a first-gen student or young professional; it can be as simple as a tip over coffee or a DM. 

• Share job or internship postings with Latino peers looking for opportunities.

• Commit to buying holiday gifts from Latino-owned shops.

• Contribute to a scholarship fund for Latine students.

• Reflect: Write down how your actions this month can become year-round commitments. And, if you’re up for it, share what you learned and how your impact made a difference with others. You never know who you can inspire to support the Latino community beyond Latino Heritage Month. 

The Impact of Micro-Actions 

Latino Heritage Month isn’t just about recognition of the Latino community and its impact; it’s also about investing in the future of Latinos in the United States, together. Each small, daily choice, whether that’s buying cafecito from a local shop, mentoring a first-gen student, or calling a representative, adds up to collective power and makes Latino Heritage Month count.