Staff Chats: Claudia Menéndez, Equity Officer

For Hispanic Heritage Month, we spoke with the City's new Equity Officer, Claudia Menéndez, on the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month, how she celebrates and how Hispanic heritage is key to the history and legacy of Fort Collins.

CM: Being part of the Latino community in Fort Collins gives me a sense of pride and a sense of belonging. We are rich in cultural and linguistic diversity. We are white, brown to black and every tone in between. We offer musical beauty from salsa, bachata, merengue, cumbia, and reggaetón. Our culinary arts are exquisite and globally known from tortillas, to tamales, to ceviche, empanadas, pupusas, horchata, street tacos, to smothered burritos and so many region specific dishes.

How do you typically celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?

CM: It is a time of reflection and appreciation of our heritage, our roots, and our families’ journeys. It is a time to be grateful for our past, our present, and the opportunities that help us plan for our future. I love seeing how different institutions and individuals take this time to shine and spotlight our contributions to our communities. Hispanic Heritage Month may come once a calendar year, but for us every day is a day to celebrate our heritage and be proud of where we come from and who we are.

Why is it important for us to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in Fort Collins?

CM: We make up slightly more than 20% of Colorado’s population representing nations across the Americas, the Caribbean, Spain, and Equatorial Guinea. We are part of the fabric of this nation. We contribute greatly in a plethora of ways to the well-being of our communities. The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively.

How is Hispanic heritage key to the history and legacy of Fort Collins?

CM: Latinos have been present in Larimer County and Fort Collins since the late 1800’s. The homestead Act of 1862 and later the sugar beet plantations attracted numerous Hispanic and Mexican families to the area. We have a long history here. I’m very excited the our local organization Mujeres de Color has dedicated a monument honoring the Hispanic and Mexican beet workers. It’s located on Lemay and Vine at the Sugar Beet Park. It represents a history of hard work and contributions to the land and building of this community.

What can Fort Collins do to better support and celebrate our Hispanic/Latinx community?

CM: I see potential for increased collaboration between our city’s great institutions like PSD, CSU, Front Range and our many local nonprofit partners, businesses, and individuals to join forces and celebrate more visibly, to demonstrate our union and support. I'd love to see a festival that commemorates our diverse Hispanic and Latinx heritage with music, food and activities for our entire community to enjoy together. It’s the perfect time of year to gather and celebrate.