As a company, we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month and the culture and contributions of our Latin American employees because we understand that the unique talents, experiences and voices of all our team members makes us stronger. It is fitting that The National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM) announced the theme for this year’s National Hispanic Heritage Month Observance as: “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.” Building a diverse and inclusive workforce is a fundamental pillar of AspenTech’s culture, so, with that in mind, we invite you to learn more about Latin American culture and the diverse community that makes AspenTech a great place to work.

In the Latinx community, warmth and connectedness can be felt, not only in food and folk traditions, but in daily activities – like traditional games - that occur at home with family and friends. Here are two of the most common: 

Dominoes
This game is prevalent in Latin countries — especially in the Caribbean region – and typically consists of 28 numbered tiles, but what is special about it? Beyond the rules and the different scores, dominoes are part of a family tradition. It is common to see Sunday roasts where an entire the whole family gets together to share, with and both adults and children competing compete to see who is the best. It is in laughter, the union, and the moment itself that makes the domino an essential part of what most identifies us as Latinxs: family.

 

The Lottery

This game became particularly popular during the Mexican War of Independence and was frequently played by soldiers. Players each get one of more than 50 cards, each of which features different images representing Mexican culture. The lottery is played on all kinds of occasions: parties, birthdays and public events in cities or towns, where the entire community gathers in public squares to share a fun, unique game which is very present in the traditions of Mexico.

Latinx Influencers

Seeing someone like us doing things that supposedly are reserved for other people allows us to look up, dream big, spread our wings, work hard and go for it.

The Hispanic presence is growing in all areas, these people are an example of it:

• Jorge Mas is president and shareholder of MasTec, an engineering and construction company in Miami. He is a Cuban-American businessman who owns the Inter Miami soccer team.
• Gloria and Emilio Estefan are the Cuban co-founders of the Miami Sound Machine, an American band famous for Latin-influenced music. They have also been inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame.
• Jorge Pérez is an Argentine businessman, from Cuban parents, who grew up in Colombia and now is co-founder of one of the biggest construction companies in Miami.
• Sofía Vergara, is a Colombian actress, most famous for her role on the hit series Modern Famliy. Her talent not only helped her become the highest paid actress in the world in 2020, but also to become an expert in business.
• Arturo Moreno is the first Mexican-American to own a sports team in US, the Los Angeles Angels, part of Major League Baseball.
• Carolina Herrera is a Venezuelan-American fashion designer known for her feminine designs. Her namesake brand was founded in 1980 and has since become one of the most respected names in fashion.
• María Contreras-Sweet is a Mexican businesswoman who served as president of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in 2014 for President Barack Obama.

Latinx Dictionary and Phrases
Have you ever heard different words that only the members of a certain community and/or culture understand?

Don’t worry! These slang words and phrases are commonly used in conversation in the Latinx community in daily conversations. The meanings have evolved over time to reflect the values and attitudes of the culture, and sometimes slang gives standard words new meaning.

Below are some examples of the most common slangs words and phrases:

Word	Meaning
Boludo	Jerk
Buenazo	Really good
Chamba	Work
Chevere	Cool
Cuate	Friend
Dale	Of course
Echar una mano	To help someone
Florear	To lie
Mamarracho	A ridiculous thing or person
Mande	What?
Naguará	Wow
Ojo	Watch out
Pana	Friend
Plata	Money
Rumbiar	coTo party
Vaina	A thing

 

 

 

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As an additional way to celebrate Latinx culture and heritage, we have curated a Spotify playlist for you to learn and enjoy popular and representative Hispanic music.