10 ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Google

Sep 13, 2023

Learn how Google is recognizing and celebrating Latino culture, music and leadership this Hispanic Heritage Month.

Ana Corrales

Chief Operating Officer, Devices and Services, HOLA Executive Sponsor

An illustration of three windows, each representing the three pillars - music, leadership and art - of the Hispanic Heritage Month theme for Google’s Employee Resource Group HOLA. There is a guitar, a canvas, and two figures to illustrate people sitting

This blog is also available in Spanish.

Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place from September 15 through October 15, is a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of the Latino community. Search trends for Latin American culture have spiked over 570% during the past year with interest in searches about Hispanic food, art and traditions on the rise. Teams across Google are using their products to amplify the voices and culture of the Latino community, and Googlers are planning ways to celebrate the moment across our offices globally.

Here are 10 ways Google is celebrating, recognizing and elevating the Latino community:

1. Building digital skills with Grow with Google

In partnership with TECHNOLOchicas, Grow with Google recently announced a $150,000 grant to help 1,000 young Latinas in Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles study STEM.

Grow with Google will also host in-person trainings at the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce National Conference to help Latino-owned small and medium-size businesses improve their cybersecurity and productivity. Additionally, a free cybersecurity workshop for Spanish-speaking small businesses launched this week on YouTube. Small businesses can sign up to watch on demand at g.co/grow/ciberseguridad.

2. Supporting Latino-led startups

Google for Startups recently announced the recipients of this year’s Latino Founders Fund, a group of promising Latino entrepreneurs who each received $150,000 in cash, $100,000 in Google Cloud credits and hands-on mentorship from Google to grow their businesses. This year’s cohort includes inspiring founders who are solving big challenges — ranging from providing mental health support for children to helping businesses improve their cybersecurity.

3. Spotlighting Latino artists in Chrome

Chrome and Chrome OS’s Latino Artist Series features custom wallpapers and browser themes that reflect the unique perspectives and experiences of each artist. Visit the Chrome Web Store or your Chromebook’s wallpaper gallery to download them today — and look out for four new themes that will be added later this month.

A sample of the collection of custom wallpapers available in the Latino Artist Series.

A tiled image featuring six artworks from the current Latino Artists Collection.

4. Honoring a legend and activist

Today we are kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month with a Google Doodle celebrating Guatemalan American civil rights and fair-labor activist Luisa Moreno. The Doodle, illustrated by guest artist Juliet Menendez, brings to life Moreno’s work empowering and organizing workers across the U.S. for fairer wages and conditions.

The Google Doodle of Luisa Moreno

5. Sharing stories from the Latino community with Google Assistant

Throughout the month, Google Assistant will feature stories and reflections from members of the Latino community. To hear them, just say, “Hey Google, Happy Hispanic Heritage Month.” You can even listen to them after this month by saying, “Hey Google, tell me a human story.”

6. Exploring Latino cultures on Google Arts & Culture

Google Arts & Culture is spotlighting a variety of meaningful topics, including the vibrant and rhythmic world of Caribbean salsa music, the impact of Latinos with disabilities and the long history of Indigenous Mexico.

A figure covered with red, yellow, and purple corn husks lie on a blue ground, covered with purple flowers. The figure lies on their back, with their knees bent, with one arm holding up their leg and with the other wrapped around their head.

Nature Nurtures by Suzy González | Museo Eduardo Carrillo on Google Arts & Culture

An oil painting of an indigenous man in 3/4 view holds his hands up, his fingers have begun to sprout mushrooms and the clouds gather behind him above the forest. He has long black hair, which he wears on the side and wears an olive green, v-neck top. He wears a teal earring on his left ear as well as a stud under his lip.

Teonanacatl by Sage Alucero | Museo Eduardo Carrillo on Google Arts & Culture

Portrait of Disabled Comedian and Actress Danielle Perez laughing and sitting in her wheelchair with background of Disability Pride Flag in crayon textured colors. Danielle Perez is illustrated in black and white while the colors of the Disability Pride Flag adorn the background, with green, blue, white, yellow, and red at the center.

Danielle Perez Digital Portrait by Adriana Morales-Díaz | Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino on Google Arts & Culture

Portrait of Disabled Actress and Activist Jillian Mercado with background of Disability Pride Flag in crayon textured colors. Jillian Mercado wears a yellow dress and a blue bracelet. The colors of the Disability Pride Flag adorn the background, with green, blue, white, yellow, and red at the center.

Jillian Mercado Digital Portrait by Adriana Morales-Díaz | Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino on Google Arts & Culture

Victor Manuelle and Tito Nieves sing together into microphones on a stage. Victor Manuelle wears a silver two-piece outfit, while Tito Nieves wears a monochrome black suit with black sunglasses. Behind them is a screen with turquoise palm leaves and fuschia lines.

Tito Nieves y Victor Manuelle by Victor Manuelle/Sony Music Latin | International Salsa Museum on Google Arts & Culture

Black and white photograph of a crowd watching Alfonso Panama and his band perform in the middle of the street in NYC in 1957. The crowd is a mix of men and women, watching 7 men play cuatro, the güira, and the double bass while singing.

Alfonso Panama Joseph Collection 10

by Alfonso Panama Joseph Estate | International Salsa Museum on Google Arts & Culture

7. Highlighting apps, games and books by Latino creators in Google Play

To celebrate this month, Google Play will spotlight apps, games and books made for and by the Latino community. Learn about the founders of Duolingo and Storyplace, discover GamingMermaid’s community-based games, check out author Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s must-reads, and more.

Discover apps, games and books on Google Play created by the Latino community.

Multiple apps on the Google Play Store are highlighted to indicate those developed by Latino creators or created for the Latino community.

8. Featuring Latino stories on Google TV

Google TV will spotlight movies and TV shows featuring Latino stories and talent in the Featured Carousel throughout the month, using the tag “¡Viva la cultura!” You’ll also see Spanish channels like Estrella TV in the Live Tab, where you can watch content for free with ads. On the For You tab, a specially-designed content collection will also highlight shows and movies to explore and watch free with ads all month.

Google TV will feature Estrella TV, a live channel with Spanish programming you can watch free with ads.

A Google TV Featured Carousel banner promoting Estrella TV

9. Connecting with Latino creators and influencers on YouTube

YouTube will be spotlighting Latino creators in areas like gaming, cooking and music. Channels to connect with throughout the month will include Ayy_TonyRomero, SassySounds ASMR and music artist Young Miko. Creators will also be featured on YouTube's social handles and in digital billboards at SoFi stadium.

YouTube Hispanic Heritage Month highlighting Latinx creators @SassySoundsASMR, @ayytonyromero, @itsyoungmiko, and many more.

A blue digital banner shows images of two YouTube creators (@SassySoundsASMR and @ayytonyromero) and one music artist (@itsyoungmiko) with writing that says "Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month 2023" along with the words "Music", "Gaming", “Health & Wellness”, “Vlogs”, “Fashion & Beauty”, and “Food & Recipes”.

10. Celebrating Latino culture at Google offices around the world

This year, HOLA – Google's Employee Resource Group for Hispanic/Latino Googlers and allies – is using the theme "We are on our way: a celebration of our culture." It aims to honor the past accomplishments, current momentum and future opportunities of the Latino community.

Within this theme, HOLA is organizing events and volunteer opportunities that align with their three pillars of music, leadership and art. Events will include a fireside chat about leadership, a talk with artist and illustrator Andrea Campos and even dance classes for Googlers to learn how to dance salsa and bachata.

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