Published
by Macey Streeper, Senior Marketing Communications Specialist
Corporate
National Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place each year September 15 through October 15, is a national celebration recognizing the contributions and importance of Hispanics and Latinos to the United States, as well as those American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America.
As we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, employees are encouraged to share how they pay homage to their own heritages and what the celebration of this month means to them. Senior Marketing Communication Specialist Macey Streeper has decided to share her story publicly.
Every year, the U.S. observes National Hispanic Heritage Month. This celebrates the culture of Latinx and Hispanic Americans and honors the contributions of their heritage to the American experience.
Cultural heritage is defined as the way of living that is passed on from generation to generation. As a Mexican American in Arizona, my Hispanic heritage has played a huge role in who I am and how I’ve grown up, including my work ethic. Both of my grandparents were extremely hard workers, progressing the trajectory and success of their families by prioritizing education and taking risks to provide a better future.
My grandpa Art Sanchez, who recently passed at the end of 2020, is a hero to me in the courage he exemplified to secure a better life. Coming from a small, segregated town in south Texas, he learned English, excelled in school and planned on becoming a professor. However, the draft changed that path and my grandpa enlisted in the U.S. Airforce, bringing him to Arizona and leading him to a wonderful marriage and a career in Engineering and Quality Control. His brave decision to start his life in Arizona (encouraged heavily by my grandma) inspired me in my pursuit of a degree change and out-of-state internships during college. Though it was tempting to play it safe, with his motivation, I knew that I could accomplish anything with hard work and a can-do attitude.
My grandpa started life in a single-room home with an outhouse, didn’t speak the language spoken at the schools he attended and was considered a “second-class” citizen that had to stay on a certain side of town. He was in a deficit of an advantage compared to many of his peers, yet he was a successful and well-respected man in his field by the end of his career. Through hard work and kindness, he pursued the life he knew he could achieve and encouraged me to do the same. I am reminded of his roots and determination in everything I do, and I know that our family would not have the resolve and appreciation for our good fortune if it weren’t for him and my grandmother.
Rogers is proud to celebrate the diversity of its nearly 3,300 global employees. By acknowledging and sharing our individual heritages, languages and family traditions, we strengthen our worldwide community and build a more connected team. Joining our team means becoming a part of a global organization. To learn more about career opportunities at Rogers, visit careers.rogerscorp.com.
Published on Sep 15, 2022
