Vagaro Employee Spotlight: National Hispanic & Latin Heritage Month
September is a month of great significance for Hispanic- and Latin-Americans. That’s because September 15 officially begins National Hispanic Heritage Month, which will run through October 15. Originally conceived by President Johnson as a week-long celebration in 1968, it was extended to a full month by President Reagan in 1988 to fully honor the rich history, culture, and many contributions of Hispanic and Latin Americans.
Vagaro celebrates the rich tapestry of traditions that will be on display over the next six weeks and shares the universal values that underpin them all: deep love for family, kindness to others & hard work. We’re glad to introduce you to two exemplary Vagaro employees who are members of the Bay Area’s thriving Hispanic and Latinx community. They share what their culture means to them, how they embrace it and how they plan to celebrate it.
Liz Olveda – Sr. Communications Manager
1. What is your name and what is your role at Vagaro?
My name is Elizabeth Olveda, and I am the Senior Communications Manager here at Vagaro.
2. Hispanic heritage is shared by a huge collective of peoples in 33 Latin American countries & Spain. What is your background?
I am proud to be Mexican! My mom's side of the family comes from the state of Chihuahua, and my dad's side is from Jalisco. Both my parents were born here in California.
3. What does your Hispanic heritage mean to you? What parts of it do you embody, or try to, every day?
My Latina heritage means carrying a strong sense of pride in my family, embracing unity within our community, the power of resilience in overcoming adversity, and cultural preservation.
Every day, I am forever grateful and remind myself of the sacrifices and hard work my loving ancestors, grandparents, parents, tías & tíos, siblings, cousins and other extended family carried out to plant the seeds for what I’ve been able to achieve and what makes me who I am today. I embrace these same values of being kind, loving, and hardworking to embody their spirit.
4. National Hispanic & Latin American Heritage Month runs from 9/15–10/15. How will you celebrate this month & engage with your culture?
I will celebrate by spending time with my loved ones at various Latino Heritage Month celebrations where the emphasis on live music, dancing, singing, art, and especially food, brings our diverse and colorful culture to the forefront.
I’m thankful that we live in the Bay Area, where these events are plentiful. And, Mexican Independence Day falls on September 16, which is also a significant holiday for me and my family.
5. This month is about celebrating exemplary Latin & Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our society. Who is that for you? Whose example do you follow or embody?
Cesar Chavez, who was a Mexican American labor leader and tireless civil rights activist. He helped achieve better wages, working conditions, treatment and other benefits for farm workers and their families. His dedication to, and empowerment of, underprivileged communities continues to inspire me to stand up for what’s right and help those who may have less.
6. Have you or someone you are close to (family, friends, etc.) encountered any stereotypes, misconceptions or instances of intolerance related to your culture & heritage?
Yes, unfortunately, myself and almost all my closest loved ones have. I think the best way to deal with this is to speak up against their prejudice, counter their ignorance by highlighting achievements and contributions of those they’re being prejudiced toward, and most of all, continue proving them wrong.
7. What do you want others outside of your community to know and understand about Latin & Hispanic Americans and their contributions?
It’s important to realize how diverse our community is; Mexican, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Salvadoran, Colombian, Cuban, and so many more. And our contributions are just as varied and plentiful! From activism to sports & science and everything in between, so many of these contributions have played an integral role in our society. Ultimately, I want people to know most of us are hardworking individuals with some of the biggest hearts.
Did You Know
- The 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month observance theme is Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America.
- September 15 also coincides with the with the Independence Day celebrations of five countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, followed by Mexico on Sep. 16, Chile on Sep. 18, and Belize on Sep. 21.
- A Hispanic person is someone who comes from or is a descendant of a Spanish-speaking country. Latine (which is a gender-neutral alternative to Latino and Latina) is used when referring to someone who comes from Latin America or is a descendant from any Latin American country.
- As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the Hispanic or Latine population sits at 61.2 million1— making this community the largest minority group in the country.
Gerardo Barrón – Sales Representative
1. What is your name and what is your role at Vagaro?
My name is Gerardo Barrón, and I am a Sales Representative at Vagaro.
2. Hispanic and Latinx heritage is shared by a huge collective of peoples in 33 Latin American countries & Spain. What is your background?
Mexican
3. What does your Hispanic/Latinx heritage mean to you? What parts of it do you embody, or try to, every day?
Engaging with my Hispanic/Latinx heritage, for me, is about remembering my roots and my culture. That’s what shaped me into who I am today.
I’d say the biggest aspect for me is the Spanish language. My parents made sure to raise me to speak Spanish and it is something that I am not only proud of, but I embody every day. It’s something that I will pass down to my children.
4. National Hispanic & Latin American Heritage Month runs from 9/15–10/15. How will you celebrate this month & engage with your culture?
September 16 is Mexican Independence Day, which is a day to celebrate and honor the country of my roots. Every year my family and I do something fun, which usually consists of lots of food, music...and tequila!
5. This month is about celebrating exemplary Hispanic & Latin Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our society. Who is that for you? Whose example do you follow or embody?
If I had to choose a person from our community who has positively influenced and enriched our society, it would be my father.
My father is a hardworking individual who has worked in construction for decades. He has literally and figuratively helped build the Bay Area. Most notably, he worked on the Sales Force Park in San Francisco. It is thanks to hardworking individuals, like my father, that we have the beautiful buildings and offices that we work in. They have contributed so much to the Bay Area.
6. What do you want others outside of your community to know and understand about Hispanic & Latin Americans and their contributions?
What I want others outside of my community to know and understand about Hispanic & Latin Americans the most is that we are a diverse group of hardworking individuals who are loving and caring.
7. Have you had the opportunity to help Hispanic or Latinx-owned businesses through Vagaro?
Absolutely! As a Spanish speaker, I work with Spanish-speaking Hispanic or Latinx clients every day. It brings a smile to my face when I can positively impact someone’s life and business. By just removing a potential language barrier, I can create a positive experience where there otherwise might have been a negative one.
These clients always express their gratitude, which is a humbling experience. For me, it’s all a way of paying homage to not only my roots, but to my family as well.
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