National Hispanic Heritage Month occurs annually between September 15 and October 15. It’s a time to celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of those whose ancestors came from Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Spain.
As part of this year’s Somos Austin, the Hispanic Impact Fund‘s annual fundraising campaign, we shared stories of Latino life in Austin throughout Hispanic Heritage Month.
Although the awareness month is officially over, the sentiment remains the same. Here’s our list of businesses, artists and leaders to recognize year-round in Central Texas and beyond.
- Lahleenea – Honduran-inspired food truck located in the Mueller neighborhood
- Superfónicos – A local Austin band whose sound blends Colombian funk and Caribe soul
- Mexic-Arte Museum – Downtown Austin museum dedicated to the cultural enrichment and education of traditional and contemporary Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art and culture
- Voces – Oral history project from The University of Texas at Austin, which preserves the stories of Latinos in America
- ‘Everyone Knows You Now Go Home’ by Natalia Sylvester– Novel centered on a Mexican American family and their journey to discovering home and belonging. Natalia is a freelance writer right here in Texas
Empanadas from The Doughminican
- Teatro Vivo – Bilingual performing arts theater
- Suerte – Nationally acclaimed traditional Mexican restaurant using local Texas ingredients
- Chingona Fest Texas – Annual conference and music festival founded by Denise D. Hernandez, aimed at inspiring and empowering Latinas through music, film, art, community, and philanthropy
- Zilker Brewing Co. – Community focused urban brewery and tap room co-founded by Marco Rodriguez and his best friends Patrick and Forrest Clark
- Garza Independent High School – Named in honor of Dr. Gonzalo Garza, a a Central Texas educator and former marine
- Frida Friday ATX – Austin’s first and only monthly woman of colored centered mercado
- The Young Hispanic Professionals Association of Austin – YHPAA aims to provide leadership and professional development opportunities for young Latinos to empower, connect and lead within the Greater Austin community
- KUT/KUTX – Austin’s local NPR station and music experience features numerous Hispanic reporters and DJs including Joy Diaz, Ashley Lopez, Laurie Gallardo and Jerry Quijano.
- Grupo Fantasma – A grammy award winning nine piece Latin-funk and cumbia powerhouse from Austin, TX
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Sandy Alcalá, Somos Austin Chair, wearing branded hat from Vamos Marketing
Vamos Marketing – Branded merchandising agency focused on promotional products, gifts and more
- Martha P. Cotera – Librarian, writer, andinfluential activist of both the Chicano Civil Rights Movement and the Chicana Feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s
- The River and the Wall – 2019 documentary film about the Texas-Mexico border and the economic and environmental implications of a proposed border wall
- The Doughminican – Austin’s first Dominican food-truck serving fresh and seasonal dishes
- Bidi Bidi Banda – Austin’s first all-star Selena tribute band
- Las Comadres Para Las Americas – Founded by Nora Comstock, Las Comadres Para Las Americas is an informal group for Latinas across the U.S. to build connections and community
- Star Windshield Repair – Locally owned & operated car windshield repair shop
- Mexican American Cultural Center – The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, also known as the MACC, features galleries, exhibits and now digital programming centered on the cultural arts of Mexican Americans and Latino culture
- ‘Finding Latinx: In Search of the Voices Redefining Latino Identity’ by Paola Ramos – Writer & journalist Paola Ramos shares stories from across the country highlighting young Latino voices.
- DJ Chorizo Funk – Local musician mixing a wide range of genres such as Afro-Latin, Afrobeat, Funk, Soul, Hip Hop, and more
- Matt’s El Rancho – South Lamar staple Mexican restaurant commitment to fresh food and ingredients
- Bob Bullock Museum – Texas State history museum, with detailed exhibits on the lives & histories of indigenous people in Texas including the Karankawa, Caddo, Apache, Comanche, Wichita, Coahuiltecan, Neches, and Tonkawa tribes.
- ‘Clap Your Hands When You Land’ by Elizabeth Acevedo – A dual narrative novel about the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bittersweet bonds that shape our lives
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Garza Family, Siete Family Foods
Siete Family Foods – Mexican-American food brand, rooted in family, that makes delicious grain free products.
- Hispanic Impact Fund – Join the Hispanic Impact Fund to directly support local Latino organizations and leaders.