Hispanic/Latinx Heritage month is celebrated September 15th - October 15th and it is defined as “an official celebration of American citizens whose ancestry can be traced back to Spain, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, South or Central America, and other Spanish speaking cultures or of hispanic origin regardless of race" (https://time.com/4943371/what-is-hispanic-heritage-month/). Here at Fearlesshe, we want to honor this celebration of the Hispanic/Latinx Heritage by discussing its importance, origin and introducing you to some fearless Hispanic women leaders that are paving the path for many more to come. 

Why is Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month important?

This month is important for various reasons. The main one being: The Hispanic/Latinx population in the U.S. has reached 60.6 million in 2019 which makes it the nation’s second fastest-growing racial or  ethnic group.  With these numbers continuously increasing it is evident that the contributions of  the Hispanic/Latinx population to the U.S. in various fields is of great magnitude and therefore is so important to celebrate. The Hispanic/Latinx population has also contributed to America since the American Revolution, and have fought in every war since then. 

What is the history behind Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month?

This celebration began in 1968 under President Johnson and was only celebrated for one week. 20 years later in 1988, President Reagan enacted a public law for it to be celebrated for one month, beginning on September 15th. Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month begins in the middle of September as it coincides with the national independence days of various Latin American countries such as: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica which fall right on September 15th, followed by Mexico on September 16th, Chile on September 18th and Belize on September 21st. 

How is Fearlesshe honoring Hispanic/Latinx Heritage month?

To honor Hispanic/Latinx Heritage month we’ve decided to highlight some Fearless Hispanic/Latinx women leaders who we’ve been inspired by. These leaders are paving a path in various industries that will surely open up doors for future Hispanic leaders. 

MJ Songstress

Mj Songstress is a recording artist, singer, songwriter, musician, dancer, model and actress whose career has been deeply influenced by her Mexican dad and her Greek mother who at a young age, took her to their musical gigs where MJ got to experience their passion for music and develop her own. Her music ranges from hip hop and international to soul and funk to R&B and even Latinx music. 

Everything you need to know  about MJ Songstress is embodied in these following sentences from the I AM WOMAN conference 2020: “MJ Songstress embodies her vocalist moniker by believing that life is like a compilation of albums featuring songs produced from memories, and dreams. All her experiences— good, bad, and worth dancing to—have inspired her desire to understand self, and live boldly.”

Mj has toured with Wycleaf Jean, Kumbia All Starz, Nile Rodgers and CHIC. She was also on Usher’s Top 20 finalists on The Voice season 6 and on Alejandro Sanz’s Top 4 on La Voz Mexico. “With La Voz México, I particularly agreed to participate because my grandmother, Rosita, had recently passed away, and this was my way of honoring her and connecting with my roots in Mexico! The whole journey was for my grandmother and, in turn, not only supported my healing and grieving, it strengthened and sharpened me as an artist and woman, and supported me in practicing my Spanish. I was under a lot of pressure with the Mexican audience, and I took on the challenge like the fighter that I am.” (https://theknockturnal.com/exclusive-mj-songstress-talks-dame-la-noche-music-video-the-voice-her-musical-influences/) 

And a fighter she is, her mantra is “No matter what...KEEP GOING.”

She recently released the music video for her single “Give Me Tonight/Dame La Noche” and you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdyJ762TTIc&feature=emb_title 

We can’t wait to see what this powerhouse, MJ Songstress has in store for us!

Christine Ortiz Bluth

Christina Ortiz Bluth is the Chief Executive Officer at indieDwel, a Public Benefit Corporation and a Certified B-Corporation that focuses on sustainably building durable, healthy, and energy efficient homes that are affordable where she provides day-to-day leadership and management to drive accountability and inspiration in achieving the organization’s purpose, mission, and vision.

Her prior professional experiences include Groovesshark.com, St. Charle’s Capital, a brokerage firm and at a single family office in which her roles varied from COO/CFO to managing roles and sales. 

 Christina’s  professional success is matched by her commitment to her community. Christina believes in giving back to the community through time, talent and financial resources. For 15 consecutive years, she served on various boards and committees including: Inclusive Economy of Colorado, The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, The Colorado Education Initiative, SlimGenics Foundation, Summer Scholars and Elevations Credit Union. 

Behind this extensive list of professional development stands Christina, the Colorado native who is the youngest of six children of Spanish, Native American and Mexican roots. She is a first-generation college student, a mother to two young children and a wife who enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors with her family and loves to try new things. 

When asked for career advice, Christina says, “We are all on our own journeys and rather than comparing oneself to another,  remember that the sky shines brighter with more stars. We have a duty to pay tribute to those who came before us and an obligation to leave the world a better place for those who come after us. We have a responsibility to our community and we can give in big ways and small ways and it all matters.”

We feel deeply inspired by Christina Ortiz Bluth!

Melody Estrada

Melody Estrada is a proud daughter of Cuban and Puerto Rican parents and the founder and CEO of Me&Co, a marketing consulting agency that centers Latinx and minority-owned businesses. She has been driving a movement to elevate and amplify Latino owned businesses from her time at the Latino Business Action Network and her current work as a consultant. Recently she became the vice-president of www.latinaprofessionals.org, an organization that helps women reach their full potential, empowering them with the knowledge and resources that open the doors of opportunity. 

Melody values community and giving back. She owes this to the values instilled by her mother at a very young age while active in the church. Melody first learned about the needs of the community while working at City of Mountain View in the Recreation Division, she later got involved with relief work in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria and continues to be involved through the series of unfortunate events Puerto Rico continues to experience. She’s raised over $10k for the island and has visited 3 times to assist in their recovery. 

When asked what continues to inspire her, Melody says: “My network, family and friends inspire me. Many in my network are executive leaders throughout the country and as they continue to share out on their achievements, it motivates me to keep going as well. I have also curated what I consume online to inspire me and influence me in a positive way.”

She has also left us with some important advice on career advancement:

1) Imposter syndrome is real and it's easy to feel like you don't belong, when you look, speak or think differently -- but your ideas matter, you belong, and you are enough.

2) Negotiating is scary. But you are worth it. 

3) Mentors are crucial. Find a couple great ones early on, and cherish those relationships! 

We are grateful for such a fierce leader!

Jennifer Flores

Jennifer Flores is the CCO for a non-profit organization that specializes in substance abuse treatment and the founder of Dear Mama Candle & Co. which is a clean candle company designed to celebrate and honor every moment of motherhood. She is also a mother of two. As you can see, Jennifer is busy but this doesn’t mean she doesn’t hold her volunteer work close to her heart. Even when she isn’t physically putting in volunteer work, she spends the time to start conversations regarding ending mass incarcerations, defunding the police and advocating for birth justice for Black and Brown Womxn. “The lives of marginalized folks will forever matter to me and I intend on continuing the fight for freedom and equity for us and learning from the many womxn who came before me.” 

Jennifer is inspired by womxm; by their strength, adaptability, resilience and innovation. She understands that being a Latinx woman influences the way she shows up in the world and hopes that her story influences the lives of other Latinx women as well. She is also guided by a woman. She refers to her mentor as “someone that is committed to exposing and expanding herself for the sake of teaching others.”

When asked what personal skills set, behaviors and communication techniques are required to become a leader, she left us with: “To become a future leader, one must be bold, honest, and willing to sit with discomfort and not center themselves whenever the issue is not directly impacting them. What I find now is too many leaders are either leading conversations about issues that do not impact them or asking those who are directly impacted to teach everyone else about that specific issue. As a leader, it is important to know when it is your turn to lead a conversation and when you should invite others to the table to lead on topics while you sit back and listen. Good leaders listen. And, they have a deep desire to get better and grow. I believe if you want to transform the world, these are attributes that you should aspire to have.”

We are fierce believers that Jennifer will impact the lives of many womxn, especial Latinx women!

On behalf of Fearlesshe, we wanted to honor Hispanic/Latinx heritage month by highlighting some courageous and bold Hispanic/Latinx leaders. These are the women that creating a path for the many more success stories to follow. We honor you and we thank you. 

Reminder: You do not have to wait until Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month to show pride in your roots. You can do that any day of the year. Hispanic/Latinx Heritage month is just a great reminder!!

See you fearless,

Carolina Abreu