Provided by TIAA communications team.
From September 15 to October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated with the special recognition of the histories, cultures and contributions of Americans who are of Spanish, Mexican, Caribbean, and Central and South American decent.
This month, TIAA’s Latino and Hispanic Business Resource Group (BRG), called Unite, hosted numerous educational and inspirational events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, with a focus on leadership in careers, voting, wellness, and community impact.
Open to all TIAA & Nuveen employees, the Unite BRG’s month-long celebrations began on September 15, in honor of one of the first days marking independence for many Latin American countries.
The Unite BRG hosted a leadership panel with Jose Minaya, CEO of Nuveen, Selina Urbina, Head of Oversight & Advocacy Business Transformation at TIAA, and Javier Reyes, Ph.D. from West Virginia University and a member of the TIAA Diversity Council. The panelists shared their personal and professional journeys and how they develop and lead in the workplace and in their communities.
Also in September, Dr. Marta Tienda, Princeton University professor and TIAA Trustee, spoke with TIAA associates about her career journey and shared her perspective on how people can come together to create a positive impact within their Latinx communities. Dr. Tienda also suggested that people get involved by helping others complete the census, register to vote, and to overcome their fears about the census and voting.
Dr. Tienda also discussed the importance of being inclusive in our conversations with everyone. She encouraged individuals to listen to diverse opinions and try to understand where people are coming from – to engage in productive conversations. “We have a lot more in common than differences when we come together,” she shared.
The Unite BRG and TIAA’s Government Relations team invited employees to learn more about election resources and voting insights from Commissioner Thomas Hicks of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Hicks and TIAA associates talked about how to make sure people’s voices are heard on Election Day. The event also encouraged employees to register to vote, help others register to vote, and to volunteer at the polls.
In October, in partnership with TIAA and the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE), Patricia Mota, HACE President and CEO, will speak about Social Intelligence and how to become more confident in social situations by learning how to express and interrupt social cues.
The Unite BRG also partnered with TIAA’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team for employees to get together virtually twice throughout Hispanic Heritage Month to prepare Spanish elementary school curriculum flashcards for Cooper Dual Language Academy, in partnership with Junior Achievement of Chicago.
Additional events being held throughout Hispanic Heritage Month include sessions on heathy Hispanic/Latinx foods, virtual dance lessons, sharing employees’ photos of their favorite heritage traditions or activities, and a session on optimal physical and mental wellness for Hispanic/Latinx populations.
