Community Impact
Gonzalo Romero shares what Hispanic Heritage Month means to him
October 08, 2024
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Gonzalo Romero’s day at Legacy as part of the IS Data Engineering and Governance team is anything but routine. He manages the day-to-day maintenance, support and IS projects of the team. He wears a consultant hat when organizational strategies require data for analytics. Finally, he does data engineering, like writing SQL code or creating data models or automation for our customers.
The 13-year Legacy veteran is also a member of the Juntos Employee Resource Group. He took a few minutes from his daily duties to reflect on what Hispanic Heritage Month means to him, particularly as he teaches his children to integrate his Peruvian roots with their life in Portland.
What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?
To me, this month is a good reminder for me to reflect on my culture and how I want my kids, who were born here, to integrate with it when they become adults. I want to make sure they maintain their Hispanic identity by reinforcing our traditions and helping them learn about role models and figures that have made a difference not only in this country but also in my country of origin.
How do you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month personally?
Being an immigrant to this country myself, I don't have full cognizance of all Hispanic role models who have made a difference in this country. I know a lot about Peruvian ones, which is my country of origin. However, as I integrate my culture with the Hispanic North American, I make it a point to learn about individuals who directly impacted the United States. I keep it simple, for example, I try to find books or movies to learn more about them. We just watched a movie about the story of Jose Hernandez, a Mexican American astronaut.
Can you share a favorite tradition or custom from your Hispanic heritage?
I love eating panetón (panettone) with hot chocolate during the holidays. I grew up in Peru looking to find the best brand of this dessert. Cutting a wedge and dipping it in the hot chocolate. I’m not the only one who does this, right?
Do you have a Hispanic leader or figure that has inspired you and why?
I admire first-generation migrant workers. My dad came to this country in that fashion and worked on farms for many years. These people inspire me because it takes much courage to leave your country and sometimes family to try to find hope and a better life. They often give up valuable time with their loved ones, risk their health at times due to working conditions, and selflessly, their own interest for the betterment of generations.
How can our workplace better support and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?
I think any workplace can better support it by continuing to socialize the meaning of this month, in particular, to individuals from our culture. We all have different perspectives, experiences, and ways of celebrating it.
Can you recommend any books, movies, or music that highlight Hispanic culture?
I love the Mexican pop-rock band Maná. Their albums from the ‘90s have so much history and messages relevant to the time. My favorite album is their unplugged version of their popular songs.
What aspects of Hispanic culture do you think are most misunderstood and why?
I think we all have misconceptions about our culture, even within the Hispanic community. I’d say the biggest one that comes to mind is the thought that every country in Latin America shares a ‘template’ identity. All those countries have so much rich history, struggles, wars, foods, and even dark moments.
How do you think we can educate others about the importance of Hispanic contributions to our society?
By sharing and talking about it. Being willing to overcome the fear of being stereotyped or different. We should celebrate our uniqueness by sharing our foods, language, music, and traditions with others. But most importantly, being willing to learn and mutually respect others’ cultures as well.
