Celebrating Hispanic Heritage
This Hispanic Heritage Month, FEDtalk is recognizing efforts to increase Hispanic/Latino representation in government and government efforts to elevate Hispanic/Latino stories to the public. Joining us on the program is Jorge Zamanillo, inaugural Director of the Museum of the American Latino, and Javier Inclán, Vice Chair of the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers.
Zamanillo provides a status update on Washington D.C.’s newest museum and explains the importance of telling Hispanic/Latino American stories as an integral part of American history.
“This museum has been in the works for over 20 years, since the 1990s… It is years of effort and a push from citizens and concerned people in the Latino community who wanted to make sure that they had representation. And that is really the key thing here, that representation,” Zamanillo explains.
Regarding representation, the group discusses the diversity of the Latino community in the United States and the importance of uplifting diverse voices in the community while still recognizing what unifies the Hispanic/Latino experience.
“We need to understand that there are over 20 Spanish speaking countries across the world. And while we share a language, I heard something the other day that really struck me: nobody owns a language, it is a shared language… Just like we talk about inclusion and inclusivity across all different types of cultures, we also have to do that within the Hispanic community,” Inclán explains.
Inclán continues to discuss increasing diverse Hispanic/Latino representation across the ranks of government, especially in leadership. The Council has a variety of programs to increase that representation and utilizing partnerships with other minority-serving institutions to fill gaps in representation.
The group discusses the importance of celebrating Hispanic Heritage all year long. Zamanillo breaks down the exhibits and programs the Museum is already hosting both in-person and virtually to share Hispanic/Latino stories. For example, while the Museum of the American Latino is under construction, the Museum of American History is hosting the Molina Family Latino Gallery, with exhibits dedicated to exploring how Latino History has shaped American History.
Similarly, the Council is hosting a Fall Leadership Forum in partnership with the League of United American Citizens (LULAC) Federal Training Institute (FTI) and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to provide professional development training with an eye toward reaching diverse communities.
You can stream the show online anytime on Federal News Network or listen to FEDtalk on all major podcasting platforms. FEDtalk is a live talk show produced by Shaw Bransford & Roth P.C., a federal employment law firm. Bringing you the insider’s perspective from leaders in the federal community since 1993.
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