Chicago musicians Juan Díes and Víctor G. Pichardo have been named 2026 National Heritage Fellows (NHF), recipients of the nation’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is recognizing the longtime collaborators for more than three decades of work performing, preserving, teaching, and interpreting Mexican son—a broad family of regional musical traditions rooted in communities throughout Mexico.
After arriving in Chicago in the early 1990s, Díes a
Photos courtesy of Chicago White Sox / X
CHICAGO — On a September night when baseball, culture and October ambitions converged on the South Side, the Chicago White Sox gave 35,778 fans plenty to celebrate.
The White Sox defeated the Colorado Rockies 6–1 Friday night at Rate Field, continuing the momentum of a remarkable season that has already secured Chicago a place in the postseason. Munetaka Murakami hit two home runs and drove in three, while starter Sean Burke allowed only one run over 5⅓ i
Latin music dominates playlists. Spanish and English move easily through the same social feeds. A streaming release can find its first devoted audience in Hispanic households and then reach millions of viewers beyond them. These are visible signs of a larger shift: Latino consumers, creators and business owners are helping determine what sells in the United States.
The scale is difficult to dismiss. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 70.1 million Hispanic people lived in the United States in
American culture is not simply becoming more diverse. It is being redefined by a Latino population whose influence extends from streaming playlists and restaurant menus to advertising strategies, digital commerce and new business formation.
The demographic foundation of that influence is substantial. The United States was home to approximately 68 million Hispanics in 2024, representing about one in every five Americans. The Hispanic population is also considerably younger than the nation overall
Every year from September 15 through October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the history, culture and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. In 2026, the national theme, “Unidos, Somos Más,” or “Together, We Are More,” carries particular significance. It speaks not only to cultural unity, but also to the growing economic, demographic and civic influence of a community reshaping the future of the United States.
Hispanic Heritage Month is often associated with festivals, f
We all know the expression “Latino time.” We joke about it because we've lived it. Tell everyone the family gathering starts at 6 p.m., and there is a reasonable chance somebody interprets that as the time they should start thinking about getting ready.
And “Latino time” doesn't discriminate based on education or professional status. The blue collar worker can fall into it. So can the corporate executive. So can the person with a PhD. Degrees, titles and income do not necessarily make any of us
Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations are often built around music, food and cultural pride. Those elements matter because they create the energy and shared identity that bring people together. But the most valuable celebrations also create something that lasts long after the evening ends: access to people, organizations and relationships capable of moving careers, businesses and communities forward.
That is what will distinguish the 18th Annual ¡Viva La Hispanidad! Hispanic Heritage Month Kickof
Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of culture, history and identity, but it is also an important reminder of the growing influence Hispanic professionals, entrepreneurs and consumers have on the American economy. Cultural pride and professional advancement are not separate conversations. They intersect whenever people gather to exchange ideas, create partnerships, share opportunities and strengthen the institutions serving their communities.
That intersection will be visible on Friday, Sep
Artificial intelligence can revise a résumé, analyze a job description, prepare interview questions and draft a polished networking message in seconds. It can help professionals research companies, identify marketable skills and communicate more effectively. What it cannot do is walk into a room, recognize an unexpected opportunity or create the trust that develops when two people speak face to face.
That distinction is becoming more important as AI-generated communication floods the professiona
The first week of September occupies an unusual place on the business calendar. Summer is ending, Labor Day weekend is approaching and many professionals have quietly begun checking out. Emails receive slower responses, calendars become lighter and serious planning is postponed until everyone returns.
That temporary slowdown creates an advantage for those willing to use it.
While others are mentally extending the holiday weekend, ambitious professionals and entrepreneurs can use this first week
Salsa dancing has long been associated with celebration, culture and nightlife. Emerging research, however, suggests that its value extends far beyond entertainment. Salsa combines aerobic movement, musical rhythm, memory, coordination, emotional expression and direct human interaction in a single activity. Few recreational pursuits ask the brain and body to perform so many different tasks simultaneously.
This combination is increasingly relevant in a society confronting rising levels of depress
Entrepreneurship is often presented as a dramatic leap that begins whenever inspiration strikes. In practice, timing matters. A strong idea launched into an inactive market may struggle to attract attention, while a thoughtfully prepared business introduced during a commercially active season can gain customers, partners and momentum much faster.
Fall offers one of the most favorable windows of the year for turning an idea into a functioning business. Professionals return from summer vacations.
The fall business season is approaching quickly, and the decisions professionals and entrepreneurs make now could influence the opportunities they encounter through the end of 2026 and into 2027.
In exactly two weeks, Chicago’s Latino professional and business community will gather for the 18th Annual ¡Viva La Hispanidad! Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff Celebration on Friday, September 11, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the I|O Godfrey Roofscape in River North. The celebration will bring together professio
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate culture, history and achievement. For professionals, entrepreneurs and companies, it can also be an opportunity to advance careers, strengthen personal brands, grow businesses and build relationships that create future opportunities.
That is the business case behind the 18th Annual ¡Viva La Hispanidad! Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff Celebration, taking place Friday, September 11, at I|O Godfrey Roofscape at The Godfrey Hotel Chicago. HispanicPro wi
As Chicago prepares to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, some of the city’s leading Latino professional and leadership organizations are coming together for an evening designed around something increasingly valuable in business: being in the right room, with the right people, at the right time.
On Friday, September 11, HispanicPro will host the 18th Annual ¡Viva La Hispanidad! Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff Celebration at the iconic I|O Godfrey Roofscape at The Godfrey Hotel Chicago in River N
September has always represented a reset for American business. Summer vacations wind down, executives return to fuller calendars, companies refocus on year-end objectives, professional events accelerate and conversations that were postponed during July and August begin moving again. For professionals and entrepreneurs, the weeks immediately after Labor Day can therefore be an important moment to become more visible, reconnect with relationships and position themselves for the opportunities that
For years, marketers talked about reaching Hispanic consumers as though they were a specialized audience sitting somewhere outside the mainstream. That framing is increasingly disconnected from the economic and media realities of the United States because Hispanic consumers are not simply participating in America's digital economy. They are helping define how it works.
The numbers make the scale difficult to ignore. The U.S. Hispanic population has reached approximately 68 million people, repres
A new era of health and wellness is emerging across Hispanic communities in the United States and Latin America. It is not driven by extreme diets or rigid fitness routines, but by a more balanced philosophy rooted in culture, family, and long term sustainability. From mental health awareness to functional nutrition and tech enabled care, Hispanic consumers are redefining what it means to live well.
With more than 65 million Hispanics in the U.S. and a median age nearly a decade younger than the
The energy around our upcoming Cinco de Mayo Networking Celebration continues to build and today we are excited to share a powerful update. We are proud to announce the participation of four dynamic organizations that are helping shape the future of Latino leadership and professional excellence in Chicago:
• LatinX MBA Chicago Chapter
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers SHPE Chicago Chapter
• National Hispanic Medical Association NHMA Chicago Chapter
• HispanicPro
This is more than an e
Women’s History Month is more than a celebration—it’s a reflection of progress, a recognition of leadership, and a call to keep building what comes next. Across the country, March continues to spotlight the achievements of women while also highlighting the work still ahead.
In Chicago, that spirit came to life through HispanicPro’s Women’s History Month programming—most notably ElevateHER 2026 and Noche en la Ópera: El último sueño de Frida y Diego—two experiences that blended leadership, cultur
