September 15th officially marks the launch of Latinx Heritage Month, our chance to celebrate the culture, traditions, and experiences of the Latinx community. We caught up with Latinx co-leads Jose Rodriguez Salinas and Alejandro Arnaiz to learn more about what this year’s theme, Unstoppable, means to them, and how we can all get involved.

The theme for this year’s Latinx Heritage Month is Unstoppable. Can you tell us a little about the concept behind the theme and how you decided on it?

    Jose: 2022 has been a tough year for our community. With various of acts violence surrounding our streets, a tense political climate, and a glooming economy, we wanted to remind our community of its strengths and unstoppable energy. For this year’s Heritage Month artwork (shown here), we decided to celebrate Latinos and Latinas who have impacted the arts, science, literature, and other fields. The heroes in our communities hail from all across Latin America and have very unique stories, yet all display passion and resilience we can be proud of.

    Alejandro: This month, we want to reflect on the different challenges that our communities have gone through during the past months. It hasn’t been easy and yet we need to continue giving our best day after day, relying on self-strength, our families, our friends, and our fellow Dropboxers. As Latin people, this sense of community is what binds us and keeps us going. It makes us unstoppable, and we want to honor it.

What does being Unstoppable mean to you personally? 

    Jose: There’s a particular line in Calle 13’s song Latinoamerica that brings it together beautifully for me — “Mi piel es de cuero, por eso aguanta cualquier clima”. The literal translation would be “My skin is leather, that's why it can withstand any weather.” This makes me think about my grandfather who worked as a Bracero back in the 1940s, and my father working in the fields of Modesto during the 1970s. Unstoppable is a reminder of the day and night hustle our community takes on in order to bring food and shelter to the table. It is the energy we put into our dreams, and the determination of Latin American kids to pursue their inner most aspirations and have equal opportunities.  I hope this year’s theme is also an opportunity for us to reflect on the things that uplift us and helps us to keep things in line.

    Alejandro: I equate Unstoppable to grit. I’m often amazed by the Hispanics who    live in other parts of the world who, having left their home town and sometimes their family, work hard every day to get ahead in life, to contribute to their society, and to care for their family and friends. It's about perseverance despite the many obstacles that might come, knowing that when we put our values, hearts and efforts together, we can pull forward, and make a difference. 

What can allies learn from this theme and how can they support it?

    Jose: Although Unstoppable is a term to encompass resilience and strength, this    does not mean an individual’s journey should be a constant uphill battle. Our community thrives despite the challenges thrown at it. However, positive environments that nurture safe spaces can help maximize results. A beautiful example of that is YOLA, an organization founded by Gustavo Dudamel to foster musical creativity for under-represented children in the Los Angeles area. For our allies out there, you can support our community by empathizing in moments of grief, standing up for a peer when space and voice is denied, participating in Latinx events, and getting involved with local organizations.

    Alejandro: Being a community and being unstoppable is not unique to Latinx. Our culture spans across more than 40 countries and includes multiple ethnicities and multiple languages. For many people, being Latin is just one part of their heritage, of who they are. We would love for our allies to join us, to celebrate with us, to embrace our differences, and to grow with us.

What are you most excited about this Latinx Heritage Month? 

    Jose: It is an exciting month where our calendar will be pioneering a range of both virtual and in-person events for the first time ever. I am personally excited about the cocktail masterclass and our in-person event — we’re having lunch together in San Francisco on September 15 and then heading to the Neighborhood event that evening. It will be first time ever since the pandemic started that Dropboxers from our ERG will be able to meet in person. 

    Alejandro: We have planned a few great activities for our community that I’m really excited about. I really hope our ERG members and Dropboxers enjoy and learn from them — whether it’s a session on art, cooking or business, there will be something for everyone. More than anything, I’m also looking forward to the in-person event Jose mentioned!

You can find out more about Diversity commitments at Dropbox here.