Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates our contributions and reminds us that building a welcoming state is a year-round responsibility.
As New Hampshire celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, we get a chance to commemorate the histories, cultures and accomplishments of Hispanic and Latino people in our state, not just for one month, but all year. In our towns we are part of the past, present and future of New Hampshire. We are neighbors, students, teachers, health care professionals, first responders, small business owners, farmers, artists, public servants and volunteers. Our work, our ideas, our caring for one another help make this state stronger, in cities and small communities.
New Hampshire has diverse history and traditions of Hispanic and Latino people. We have family from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain. We speak different languages and have diverse customs. There is no singular story that speaks for all of us. But there is so much we share. We share our belief in family, in hard effort, in education, in the prospect of a better life for our children. As we create new lives and new possibilities here, we remember the people and the traditions that came before us.
Our contributions are felt in everyday life. We treat patients. We teach and support students. We keep local companies going. We build and maintain homes and roads. We prepare meals, serve customers, create art and care for our neighbors. Hispanic-owned companies energize downtowns and commercial districts. Parents and caregivers are helping children to thrive in schools and communities. Young folks have new ideas and ambitions. These contributions may not always be seen or appreciated but they matter. They are part of what makes New Hampshire a location where people can work, learn and build a life together.
We are proud of our heritage, but pride does not mean we are without cares. Some families fear prejudice or judgment based on their names, accents, appearance or language. Some are afraid a misunderstanding could shut a door at work, at school or when seeking support. Others bear the uncertainty of the future for loved ones and the stability they have fought so hard to build. While working hard to excel in the classrooms and places they call home, children may worry if they really belong. These anxieties deserve to be acknowledged with compassion, not ignored or regarded as a problem for someone else to deal with.
A welcome New Hampshire is a place where people may participate fully in community life, feel comfortable to ask for help, and are treated fairly and respectfully. It’s a state where families can find opportunities, that children can see a future for themselves and neighbors can get to know each other beyond stereotypes. That feeling of belonging is good for everyone. When people are appreciated and included, they give their abilities, share their ideas and help their communities thrive.
Our aims are optimistic and practical: good schools where all students can learn and feel appreciated; equitable chances to work and go up; safe neighborhoods; access to the services families need; and a future where young people don’t have to hide their ancestry to chase their aspirations. We want our children to speak with pride about their families, their languages, their traditions, and that they belong in New Hampshire just as much as anyone else.
Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of success, culture and tenacity. It is also an invitation to listen and learn: to attend a local cultural event, to support Hispanic-owned companies, to read Hispanic and Latino authors, to create room for our neighbors’ tales. Most of all, it is a reminder that heritage is not apart from the story of New Hampshire. It is integrated into the very fabric of our State.
We are proud of our heritage, proud of our contributions and glad to call New Hampshire home.” Let this month inspire us to celebrate that truth and to continue working toward a state where every person has the opportunity to participate, contribute and prosper.
Sebastián Fuentes
Thornton, NH
Sebastián Fuentes is the NH Outreach & Field DirectorRights & Democracy Project.
