Hispanic Heritage Month 2022

Did you know?

Many are aware of the month, but few know of its origin. The celebration dates back to the 1960s when the administration at the time celebrated Hispanic Heritage Week. The week went on to become a monthlong celebration in the late 1980s as a way to appreciate and recognize the contributions Hispanic Americans have made to our society. The day of September 15^th is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries. Other countries were subsequently added to the list since they celebrated independence days throughout the month, thus the celebratory week becoming a month-long event.

Hispanics Organizing Leaders @ Gilbane (HOAL@)

Gilbane’s Hispanic employee resource group, HOL@, aims to promote Hispanic culture and inclusion throughout the organization. Our mission is to be a visible and trusted resource within Gilbane providing learning opportunities to develop employees professionally and culturally. We are dedicated to building a supportive and uplifting environment, discussing topics that affect our community, advocating for policy changes, and volunteering our time. HOL@ at Gilbane focuses on:

• Leadership and development
• Supporting business initiatives
• Cultural visibility and awareness
• Community outreach

Hispanic Heritage Month at Gilbane

Throughout the month we will be celebrating our most valued asset, our people. Employee spotlights are being featured on Gilbane’s intranet for everyone to learn more about their fellow colleagues, including information on family heritage, traditions, roles within Gilbane, and fun facts. We’ve also gathered some of our favorite podcasts and TED Talks hosted by Latinx creators and about the Hispanic experience. The episodes will be shared throughout the month for employees to tune into. Additionally, the HOL@ ERG will be co-hosting a session with a DE&I consultant designed to help our employees walk away with clear strategies for establishing and consistently reinforcing who they are and the value they bring to their teams and the organization as a whole.

At Gilbane, our core values serve as the foundation of how we conduct ourselves as an enterprise and treat those who we work or do business with. A unique exercise HOL@’s leadership team participated in this year included translating Gilbane’s core values and meanings into Spanish, then identifying how each is prominent in the Hispanic culture. When we analyze the Hispanic community by culture, values, and beliefs the first thing that is evident is the emphasis on family and community. Family culture lives strong at Gilbane and is rooted in generations of loyal employees throughout the organization. At the heart of our core values is caring, which drives HOL@’s vision. The core value of integrity is equally as inherent considering the importance of family and relationships in the Hispanic culture. Putting family first, cultivating relationships, and treating each other with honor, respect, and honesty is why integrity is so prominent.

Caring for friends and family particularly at times when they are fighting an illness or disease is a non-negotiable for our Hispanic community. At Gilbane, we play our part fighting diseases through the construction of life science facilities where drug products, therapeutic treatments, nutritional supplements, and diagnostic and medical devices are developed, manufactured, and distributed to our communities. The life sciences industry is currently undergoing a transformation given recent breakthroughs and regulatory approvals, specifically, on cell and gene therapies. At Gilbane, our life sciences practice is thriving.

I personally believe that my role at Gilbane as a life sciences practice leader allows me to live my Hispanic culture, values, and beliefs to the fullest by employing the principles that my family taught me in the day-to-day contributions that we make to this critical market sector. For me it’s personal, having lived through the experience of a family member being affected by a life-threatening viral infection and, at the time, not having the proper drugs to effectively treat his condition. Each opportunity to begin a new project is a reminder that there are patients in our communities waiting for a “miracle drug” to treat or cure their condition.

Gilbane Cores Values (in Spanish): Integridad, Perseverancia, Trabajo en Equipo, Dedicacion a la Excelencia, Lealtad, Disciplina, Bondad, y Emprendimiento.

The Takeaway

We challenge you to open your mind to new experiences and different cultures. Talk to different people in your office or on your jobsite and learn one thing new about them. Participate in activities that celebrate different cultures. Research different cultures and learn something new; you never know what might interest you!