KC celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with festivities and community initiatives | Opinion

As we enter the second week of Hispanic Heritage Month, we take the opportunity to celebrate the vibrant and diverse Latino community in Kansas City.

This year, KC Fiesta Hispana returned for its 43rd annual celebration, bringing together families and individuals to honor their Latinx heritage through a lively mix of food, music, games, and local KC vendors. Nationwide and locally, organizations are also highlighting the significant contributions of Latinos. For instance, the Kansas City Royals honored Octavio “Chato” Villalobos with the Buck O’Neal Legacy Seat for his exemplary service as a police officer. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs recognized the Hispanic Development Fund by featuring Cinthia Yepez and Elizabeth “Liz” Torok as their first pass honorees during the Bengal vs. Chiefs game.

You might wonder why Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15. This timing coincides with Independence Day celebrations in several Latin American countries, with various festivities taking place throughout the month.

As an immigrant from Honduras raised in the Kansas City metro area, I find immense pride in this period. It provides a platform for different cultures and histories within our Latinx community, fostering visibility and a sense of belonging, especially for those of us far from our native lands who hold different identities.

According to the Pew Research Center, Latinos are projected to represent 14.7% of eligible voters in November 2024, marking a historic high. This growth highlights our community’s increasing influence in shaping our narrative and dispelling harmful stereotypes.

Last year, Kansas City saw the election of two Latinos to its city council, Crispin Rea and Jonathan Duncan, breaking a 30-year gap. I also had the honor of being elected as a write-in candidate for an open position on the Kansas City Public School Board, where I strive to represent both the Latinx and LGBTQIA+ communities.

The Hispanic Development Fund (HDF) has played a vital role in my academic and professional journey, a sentiment echoed by many HDF scholarship recipients and alumni. This year, HDF proudly celebrates 40 years of dedicated service to the Latino families of Greater Kansas City, focusing on improving quality of life through grants, scholarships, and college advising. While our community continues to evolve, one truth remains: access to quality K-12 and postsecondary education is crucial for advancing the Latinx community.

As one of HDF’s former Senior Student Advisors, I now serve as the Community Impact Officer, supporting a fundraising initiative called Cambio Para Cambio (Change for Change). This community-led campaign fosters the philanthropic potential of Latino students, local businesses, and professional organizations. Every dollar raised during Hispanic Heritage Month is matched by private donors invested in the Latinx community. Fundraising efforts range from tamale and aguas frescas sales to various activities organized by students and professionals alike. Follow HDF on our social media platforms, “X” – formally known as Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram-@hdfkc- to see many fundraising efforts taken by different student groups, professionals, and community members. You can also visit our donation page at www.hdfkc.org/cambio-para-cambio.

Again, Hispanic Heritage Month is a vibrant reminder of the rich cultures that form the Latinx community in the United States. It’s a time to uplift and celebrate our diverse identities, the intersections that define us, and our growing presence in government, philanthropy, entertainment, and communities nationwide.

As a proud member of the Latinx community, I take immense pride in my heritage and the contributions of those who came before us. These include figures like Sylvia Mendez, whose fight for educational equality paved the way for future generations; Dr. Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina in space; and artists like Lin-Manuel Miranda, who have brought our stories to the forefront of American culture. We must also honor the tireless efforts of activists such as Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez, whose legacies continue to inspire social justice movements today.

Robert Sagastume is Community Impact Officer for the Hispanic Development Fund in Kansas City. A former undocumented immigrant, he supports underrepresented communities by increasing philanthropy in the Latinx Community through HDF’s Cambio Para Cambio fundraising efforts and local grantmaking opportunities.