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Power for Parkinson's is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize and appreciate the history and contributions of Spanish and Latinx American cultures that have enriched our nation and society. According to the United States Census Bureau, the Hispanic population is the largest minority group in the United States, with 62.3 million Hispanic people reported in 2020. Several studies have found that the highest incidence of Parkinson's Disease is found in Hispanics, over all other ethnicities.

The Power and History of Hispanic Heritage Month:

National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15- October 15, in the United States is intended to increase awareness and appreciation of Hispanic countries and the culture that each one has brought to our country. Hispanic Heritage Month began in 1968 under US President Lyndon B. Johnson's administration as Hispanic Heritage Week. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan turned the holiday into a month-long celebration. During this month, we celebrate the cultures and traditions of those who trace their roots back to Spain, Mexico, and Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

The Power of Independence:

The start of Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15, aligns with the Independence Day celebrations of multiple Hispanic countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Additionally, on September 16, Mexico gained its independence, Chile celebrates its independence on September 18, Belize celebrates on September 21, and Puerto Rico on September 23. With Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize and celebrate alongside these countries!

The Power of Hispanic Identity:

At Power for Parkinson’s, we strongly believe that making the world a better place means listening to one another with the intent to understand and learn. We pride ourselves on providing an inclusive, welcoming environment where all members are encouraged to be their genuine selves, and recognize that there is a brilliant power in a person’s title and the way one identifies themselves. Among the Hispanic community, members identify themselves using different cultural titles that you may notice being used during this celebratory month:

"Hispanic" represents a person or descendant of a person who is from a Spanish-speaking country.

"Latinx" (pronounced Latin-ex) rejects the traditional default of male-as-neutral as seen in most languages including Spanish and represents an inclusive, gender-neutral reference to anyone of Latin American descent.

"Chicano/Chicana" is used to represent people of Mexican-American heritage.

Power for Parkinson’s and Hispanic Heritage Month:

“We must use our lives to make the world a better place to live, not just to acquire things. That is what we are put on the earth for.” – Dolores Huerta

While incorporating all views and celebrating all cultures, PFP holds the Hispanic community very close. Headquartered in Texas, a state with over 39% Hispanic population, Power for Parkinson’s sees the power and impact of Hispanics within our local community and the PFP family on a daily basis. PFP invites you to join us in celebrating, learning, and sharing the impact and contributions Hispanics continue to make in America and worldwide. Our PFP team recognizes our Hispanic community and the different inspiring forms of art, music, food, and other traditions they share with the world. Follow as we highlight all the past and present accomplishments of Hispanic and Latinx Americans, and please comment to share how you celebrate Hispanic and Latinx heritage!

PFP has a new Spanish Playlist where you can find free exercise videos with Spanish subtitles on our YouTube channel. The playlist features bilingual exercise classes taught in Spanish and English. You can also find a new exercise video taught completely in Spanish by Mary Holder. As we continue to grow our global program, we hope to reach Spanish-speaking participants to help serve more members of the PD community around the world. 

#FuerzaDeParkinsonHispano #PowerforHispanicParkinsons

From the Author:

Thank you for taking time out of your day to read about Hispanic Heritage Month with Power for Parkinson’s. As the newest PFP team member, I am honored to share the history of my culture and bring new diversity to Power for Parkinson’s. I am available during normal business hours and can communicate with our Spanish-speaking participants. If you have any questions or comments you can reach me at (512)815-3324 or email me at gardenia.strong@powerforparkinsons.org

De la Autora:

Gracias por tomarse el tiempo de su día para leer sobre el Mes de la Herencia Hispana con Power for Parkinson's. Como miembro más nuevo del equipo de PFP, es un honor para mí compartir la historia de mi cultura y aportar una nueva diversidad a Power for Parkinson. Estoy disponible durante el horario laboral normal y puedo comunicarme con nuestros participantes de habla hispana. Si tiene alguna pregunta o comentario, puede comunicarse conmigo al (512)815-3324 o enviarme un correo electrónico a gardenia.strong@powerforparkinsons.org