As part of our ongoing celebration of Latinx Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15), Sergio Garcia, SFF Board of Trustees member, shared his thoughts and reflections on the Latinx community in the Bay Area and beyond.
Why is it important to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month?
While I like to believe we should celebrate and embrace Latinx people every day of the year, Latinx Heritage Month serves as an opportunity to recognize and honor the rich tapestry of our cultures, histories, and contributions to this country.
Latinx Heritage Month is a celebration of identity. This month reminds us to embrace our collective heritage and our unique experiences as Latinx people while recognizing the distinct cultural identities that enrich our communities. It is a time to honor our rich culture and artistic expressions, our languages and our shared history – elements that are integral to our identity.
While celebrating achievements, Latinx Heritage Month also serves as a time for reflection on the challenges faced by our communities, including pay inequities, healthcare disparities, and discrimination. Recognizing our struggles for equity promotes a deeper understanding of the resilience and strength of our community. As important, it encourages all of us to engage in conversations about strategies to address systemic challenges that impact our communities – and ensuring that our voices are heard.
Latinx Heritage Month is a significant time for us to celebrate our cultural identity, acknowledge historical contributions, reflect on challenges, strengthen community ties, and inspire future generations. It is a month that honors the past while looking forward to a brighter, more equitable future.
How do you support the Latinx community in the Bay Area?
As a long-time Latino resident of the Bay Area – and as an attorney — I am dedicated to advancing racial justice and economic opportunity through pro bono legal work with community organizations and through service on nonprofit boards for Latinx-led organizations, including Public Advocates, Centro Legal and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. In the legal profession, I am committed to building a robust pipeline of attorneys of color for leadership roles in law firms, government and in all areas of the law.
On the philanthropic side, I, along with my wife, Amelia Gonzalez, and our daughters, through the Garcia Gonzalez Fund, am deeply committed to fund community nonprofits in the Bay Area. Our aim is to fund nonprofit organizations that are led by communities of color, and that advance economic inclusion and racial justice, or promote equity and diversity in the arts and culture.
Finally, I am proud to work with other phenomenal leaders to build a more equitable Bay Area for all, including our significant Latinx community, as a member of the Board of the Trustees of the San Francisco Foundation.
