This Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re telling the untold stories of women, women of color and LGBTQ+ people. Subscribe to our daily newsletter.

This Hispanic Heritage Month is encompassed by prosperity, progress and power. It offers a time to recognize the strides Latinx communities have made toward representation in the United States, the sacrifices made and the uphill battles to come.

From personal stories of grandparents’ perseverance to community changemakers and recommended reading, we’re highlighting the stories of those who paved the way toward progress. 

And while this month is a time to celebrate growth and prosperity, we’re also taking a look at challenges in child care, employment and health care — and how the next generation is ensuring they have a seat at every table.

Here’s a closer look at our Hispanic Heritage Month stories. This page will be updated with our coverage throughout the month.

The 19th staff reflects on Hispanic Heritage Month

The 19th’s Latinx staff want to take this month to pause and highlight the family, community members and advocates who have contributed to our people’s identity and prosperity in both big and small ways.

---

Books by LatinX authors

Recommended reading

The 19th spoke with book publishing professionals, bookstagrammers and more about the themes that resonate with them in works by Latinx authors. Their recommendations show that ‘you can be the main character of your own story.’ 

Latinx authors are renowned in sci-fi and fantasy. Why aren’t more of their books being published?

Authors and agents say more support is needed at all levels of publishing to ensure speculative fiction books by Latinx authors get the attention they deserve.

---

Forging ahead

How Latinas in film have fought to tell coming-of-age stories

the number of Latina coming-of-age stories has increased — and so has the representation within them. There are more actresses being cast and a wider variety of viewpoints being told that reflect the complexity and humanity of a diverse population that has historically been reduced to harmful stereotypes.

But both in front and behind the camera, disparities remain, Latina women in the film and television industry told The 19th. 

How a university less than a mile from the Mexican border is helping Latinx students thrive

The 19th interviewed The University of Texas at El Paso President Heather Wilson about UTEP’s success as an Hispanic-serving institution, lowering college costs for students, the possible effects of anti-DEI legislation in Texas and her leadership style as one of the small percentage of women presiding over a top research university.

Latinas are back at work in historic numbers

Three years out from the worst period of unemployment ever experienced by any group of women, Latinas are now in the labor force at historic numbers. It’s a remarkable recovery, but does it mean they’re prospering?

---

Uphill battles

Latinas are paid less than all other women. Could starting their own businesses be the answer?

This year, Latinas will earn 52 cents for every $1 earned by White men. For many, the answer to closing that gap lies in entrepreneurship. 

Latinas are poised to be hit especially hard by the child care cliff

Latinas are more likely to be child care providers and to have children in the home who need care. The end of federal funds could hit them hard.

What Latina representation in health care looks like

Research shows that a more diverse physician workforce also means healthier patients. But efforts to bolster Latina representation have for years faced an uphill battle.

---

Community changemakers

This Latinx geologist and PBS show host is disrupting stereotypes of who can be a scientist

As host of the popular PBS show “Eons,” Michelle Barboza-Ramirez is helping to educate while allowing the next generation of BIPOC and queer students to see their unique identities as assets to the field.

‘We are women who fight’

From cleaning to care, domestic workers’ roles offer support. Where are their protections?

The 19th spoke to Evelyn Saz of the National Domestic Workers Alliance about the need for a bill of rights to protect workers from abuse, low pay and wage theft.

Miguel Rosales is building bridges — literally

Architect Miguel Rosales, 62, walks the bridges he designed decades ago and is filled with pride. His story is an unlikely one — a gay immigrant from Guatemala reshaping the skylines of major cities all over the world. But he doesn’t need people to know who he is, to attach his name to the bridges they love.