This is part of a compensated campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Ford. However, all opinions expressed are my own.
You all know that in my family, studying Hispanic heritage is not something we do one month out of the year. It's something we do year round. Living far removed from family and our Latino culture, it is a choice and a responsibility that falls on my shoulders. If I want my kids to grow up proud of their heritage, then I'm the one who has to teach it, share it, love it.
The great thing about homeschooling is that I can make these studies a part of our curricula. But you don't have to be a homeschooler to teach your kids about their ancestors, and the role that their heritage played in our nation's history. You can teach your kids about it on weekends, after school, during the summer, during holidays, at breakfast, at lunch, with dinner...you get it.
We use apps to study heritage and language...
We use crafts....
We use books...
Which is why I'm really excited about Latino Americans, the new 3-part docu-series on the history of Latinos that is airing this month on PBS. Did you already watch the premiere last week? If not, don't miss the next episode that will run tomorrow (Tuesday!) night on PBS at 8 pm ET. Or if you prefer to watch it in Spanish, you can do so every Friday night between now and October 25th on Vme TV.
The series tells our story. From immigration to renovation, anguish, celebration, and everything else that Hispanics have faced in order to find a better life for themselves and their families. It's time our stories are published in a high-quality format, with ALL the facts, and accessible to EVERYONE.
Recently, in an online conversation with my friend Angelica Perez, the creative genius behind the Ella Institute, she asked how Latinas could use their power to influence brands. Part of my response was that we can make it clear to them that supporting our community is critical. When possible, I am far more likely to purchase from a particular brand if I know that they are investing my Latino community because then I feel as though I am investing in my own community.
So when I see brands like Ford providing corporate funding for this amazing series, I make note of it. Latino Americans is the first series of its kind, the first to really focus on the influence of Latinos and Hispanics during the last 500 years. And a company that is willing to help us tell our story and document it publicly has my approval and support. You can support them back by finding them on Facebook and Twitter.
I hope you'll join me in watching this series! I'll be live tweeting during the show on Tuesday nights for the next two weeks, and would love to see you there, too!
