Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Honoring the Heart of Our Community

Every year from September 15 to October 15, our nation takes time to recognize the history, culture, and achievements of Hispanic and Latino Americans. But here at NWMMSDC, honoring this month is not something we do out of obligation. It is something we do out of genuine gratitude and respect.

Our mission has always been rooted in a simple belief: when minority owned businesses thrive, our entire community thrives with them. Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs are some of the most vital threads in that fabric. They are the small business owners who show up before sunrise to open their doors. The families who built something from nothing and passed it down through generations. The employees, mentors, and community leaders who quietly strengthen the Pacific Northwest every single day, often without recognition. This month, we want to pause and say we see you, we value you, and we are proud to stand beside you.

Hispanic Heritage Month is also a reminder of resilience. It traces back to 1968, when it began as a single week of recognition before expanding into a full month in 1988. The timing itself carries meaning, falling in mid September to honor the independence days of several Latin American nations. It is a month built on the idea that heritage deserves more than a passing mention. It deserves space, celebration, and continued investment.

A Community Worth Celebrating

There is still time this season to step into that celebration, and we hope our community will.

MEXAM NW Festival continues across multiple venues throughout the region through mid October. Curated by the Consulate of Mexico in Seattle, it brings together concerts, live mural painting, and storytelling that reflect the depth and creativity of contemporary Hispanic and Mexican American culture. It is a festival that does not just showcase art. It invites you into a living, breathing culture.

The Seattle Latino Film Festival returns in October to venues around the city. Founded in 2009 by Cuban American film professional Jorge Enrique Gonzalez Pacheco, it remains the only Pacific Northwest forum dedicated entirely to Latin American cinema. Every film shown is a story that might not otherwise find its way to a Seattle screen, and every seat filled is a small act of support for voices that deserve to be heard.

Looking ahead to November, the Día de los Muertos Festival at Seattle Center Armory on November 1 and 2 will honor loved ones who have passed through altars, sugar skull workshops, and performances that turn grief into celebration. El Centro de la Raza will host its own 20th annual Día de los Muertos Celebration that same day, a tradition two decades in the making. These are not simply events. They are acts of memory, love, and continuity passed from one generation to the next.

Organizations Carrying the Work Forward

None of this happens without the organizations working year round to uplift Hispanic and Latino businesses and families across our region. We want to take a moment to recognize them.

The Seattle Latino Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce serves King County and was named the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Chamber of the Year, an honor that speaks to the tireless work behind the scenes connecting Latino business owners to funding, education, and opportunity.

The Tacoma Latino Chamber of Commerce carries that same mission into Pierce County, creating space for entrepreneurs to network, grow, and support one another.

El Centro de la Raza has served Seattle’s Latino community for decades, offering advocacy, cultural programming, and direct services that have touched countless families.

Casa Latina stands beside Latino immigrant workers across the region, offering support and dignity to those building new lives here.

The Intentionalist, founded by Laura Clise, gives our whole community an easy way to discover and support Hispanic and Latino owned businesses, turning everyday spending into an act of solidarity.

To these organizations and the people behind them, thank you. Your work does not always make headlines, but it changes lives.

A Table Big Enough for Everyone

If there is one universal language, it might be food. It carries memory, family, and home in every bite. If you are looking for a place to start honoring this month, consider gathering around the table at one of these Hispanic and Latino owned restaurants.

Arepa Venezuelan Kitchen in the U District has been serving up a taste of Venezuela since 2016, filling a quiet corner of the city with the warmth of corn, meat, and spice.

Café Calaveras feels like stepping into your favorite tía’s kitchen, bright and full of comfort.

Carmelo’s Tacos, a Latino family owned business with three Seattle locations, has earned a place on Tasting Table’s list of the city’s best spots for tacos, a reflection of the care poured into every order.

D’ La Santa on Capitol Hill, a woman owned Mexican steakhouse, has been recognized among Seattle’s best, proof that ambition and tradition can share the same plate.

Frelard Tamales in Green Lake has earned its place on multiple lists of Seattle’s essential restaurants, one tamale at a time.

La Carta de Oaxaca in Ballard remains a beloved, long standing destination where Oaxacan cuisine is treated with the reverence it deserves.

El Mercado Latino at Pike Place Market, a female owned grocery and specialty shop, has been quietly serving up some of the city’s best empanadas for years.

Our Commitment Continues

Hispanic Heritage Month gives us a moment to celebrate loudly, but our commitment to the Hispanic and Latino business community does not end on October 15. It continues in the partnerships we build, the doors we help open, and the stories we choose to amplify every day of the year.

To every Hispanic and Latino business owner, employee, artist, and family in our region, thank you for the culture, resilience, and heart you bring to the Pacific Northwest. We see the sacrifices behind every small business sign, the traditions kept alive in every kitchen, and the dreams carried forward in every generation.

This month, and always, NWMMSDC stands with you.

Hispanic and Latino Owned Businesses in Our Region

In that spirit of celebrating the businesses that make up our community, here are Hispanic and Latino owned businesses certified with NWMMSDC across our region. We encourage you to visit their websites and consider them for your next project or purchase.

Sources

• MEXAM NW Festival
• Seattle Latino Film Festival
• Día de los Muertos Festival, Seattle Center
• El Centro de la Raza
• Seattle Latino Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
• Tacoma Latino Chamber of Commerce
• Casa Latina
• The Intentionalist
• Arepa Venezuelan Kitchen
• Café Calaveras
• Carmelo’s Tacos
• D’ La Santa
• Frelard Tamales
• La Carta de Oaxaca
• El Mercado Latino