Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the rich traditions, histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latin American communities.
It’s also an opportunity to come together, share our stories, and learn from the diverse experiences that make our communities stronger.
In September, Josselyn hosted a Heritage Month potluck, bringing staff together to celebrate through food, conversation, and community. The gathering offered an opportunity to share favorite dishes while enjoying the many flavors, traditions, and cultural influences represented across Hispanic and Latin American communities.
Therapist and clinical training coordinator Camilo Morales Hormiga, MA, reflected on the significance of the month and its connection to his work as a clinician. “Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month provides an important opportunity to recognize the rich mosaic that is Latin America, characterized by its ethnic diversity, sociocultural syncretism, and profound history. While a single month is insufficient to fully acknowledge all of these contributions, the recognition it affords helps bring greater visibility to the cultural richness and enduring impact of Latino communities.”
He added, “As a clinician, it is my responsibility to remain mindful of these factors within the therapeutic setting to provide the compassionate, culturally responsive, and quality care service our patients deserve.”
Therapist and continuing education clinical coordinator Darane Santos Casillas also reflected on the pride and resilience at the heart of the celebration. “Being Hispanic or Latinx is something that we celebrate every day, but it definitely gets louder during this time. This month, we celebrate our community, our traditions, our food, our humor, our existence, and our resilience.”
She connected that pride to her clinical work, sharing, “As a clinician, I am always reminded of how far we have come but also how much further we have to walk to ensure that everyone can feel comfortable in their own skin, safe, and proud of being Latinx.”
The potluck brought that sense of community to life through shared food and thoughtful gestures of inclusion.
“As of our potluck in Waukegan, it has been charming to see our community gather around something so dear to my heart. Our community knows how to show up and how to make sure that everyone feels included whether it’s just by bringing food that they know others love or by letting people know of that salsa that is way too spicy and will make them cry!” Darane shared.
