At Proofpoint, our people—and the range of their experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, and work skills—drive our success. We embrace and foster the diversity of our team members, customers, and stakeholders. Everyone is valued and appreciated for their lifestyles, thoughts, and talents, all of which contribute to the growth and sustainability of our business and the strength of our communities.
September 15 – October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month. During this time, we celebrate the marking of the independence anniversary of the Latin American countries by recognizing the vibrant cultures, contributions and history within the American Latino community.
When we draw on the wisdom of a workforce recruited from all segments of society, we can better understand and meet the needs of our employees and customers.
This month, we are excited to run our inaugural blog series for Hispanic Heritage Month, featuring employees who are part of our Adelante, our Latinx/Hispanic Employee Inclusion Groups (EIGs) community.
Hear from the author:
I am a member of the Proofpoint ¡Adelante! - Latinx EIG and an ally to the Latino community. Oddly enough, my connection to the Latinx culture and community began during my childhood with the traditions, foods, and strong sense of family that my maternal great-grandmother brought with her when she came to America from Czechoslovakia. My great-grandmother, who we called Bubba, was the quintessential matriarch of a multi-generational household. She was a woman who somehow managed to feed an army of people on what seemed enough to feed only two. She ran her home like a well-oiled machine and had the respect of the entire family. She instilled in us that family was everything and the year seemed to go by in a series of traditions around which the food on the table revolved.
My introduction to Latino culture started with an Intro to Spanish class in high school. I immediately loved the language and continued studying it through college, eventually minoring in Spanish. My studies introduced me to the vibrant culture, foods, traditions, and music. It didn’t take long for me to see the parallels between the culture my great-grandmother worked so hard to honor and Latinx culture. My Bubba and my grandmother were no different than the strong and loving matriarch in Latino families, the Abuela. The traditional meals of my childhood were different flavor profiles, no doubt, but the sense of family, belonging, and celebration around those foods were the same. The smell of certain foods takes me right back to my childhood and those times. An Abuela who makes the best Tamales is reminiscent of one in my culture who makes the best-stuffed cabbage! No matter how hard you try, it’s never quite as good as Abuela’s, is it?
As an adult raising children who didn’t know my Bubba and only one of whom knew my grandmother, the traditions of our culture in my life seem to have dissipated over the years. I am no longer surrounded by family or Czechoslovakian foods my kids can connect to during certain holidays. Being an ally to the Latinx community allows me to celebrate all those things I loved as a child and be part of strengthening the connections for others. I’m also able to encourage others to cherish and teach their Latino culture to their families and friends. There’s such a sense of belonging anywhere you find a rich heritage. I encourage everyone to embrace the opportunity to become familiar with the customs, flavors, and people who make up this community. There’s so much to celebrate and even more to learn!
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