Key Takeaways

• Hispanic Heritage Month is observed nationwide from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, honoring the history, culture and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities across the United States.
• Hispanic and Latino residents make up roughly one-fifth of the US population, and Los Angeles is home to one of the largest Latino communities in the country.
• Research on expanded learning and afterschool programs shows measurable gains in academic achievement, engagement and confidence among Latino students.
• Mentorship, cultural pride and access to enrichment activities all play a role in preparing the next generation of Latino leaders.
• LA’s BEST Expanded Learning Program offers free, safe and enriching activities for children ages 4-12 across Los Angeles, supporting thousands of Latino students and families every year.

Starting mid-September, communities across the country pause to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month, a period set aside to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Recognition, though, is only part of the story. The families, educators and organizations shaping this observance are also asking a bigger question: How do we invest in the young people who will carry that legacy forward?

In Los Angeles, where Latino culture runs through nearly every neighborhood, that question carries real weight. The answer often starts earlier than people expect, in the hours right after the school bell rings. Let’s take a closer look at Hispanic Heritage Month and how afterschool programs nurture future leaders.

When Is Hispanic Heritage Month, and Why Sept. 15?

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 each year. First set aside as a single week by Congress in 1968, the observance was expanded two decades later into a full month. The start date is not random. It lines up with the independence days of several Latin American nations, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, with Mexico and Chile following close behind.

Hispanic residents represent the nation’s largest racial or ethnic minority group, making up about 21% of the total US population. Los Angeles anchors much of that national story. Few cities can match its density of Latino-owned businesses, its multigenerational Latino neighborhoods or its role as a launching pad for Latino artists, athletes and civic leaders. That depth of culture and history is exactly why local support for Latino youth matters during Hispanic Heritage Month and beyond.

The Case for Expanded Learning: Why Afterschool Hours Matter

Kids spend a surprising share of their lives outside a classroom. By age 18, the average student has spent about 85% of their waking hours outside school. How they use that time helps shape who they become. That is where expanded learning and afterschool programming come in.

Students in quality afterschool programs consistently show gains in math scores, reading proficiency and overall engagement. For Latino students specifically, a RAND Corporation study cited by UnidosUS found that participation in out-of-school-time programs was linked to:

• Stronger academic achievement across core subjects
• Greater engagement and attendance in choice-based learning activities
• Real improvement in subjects that had previously been difficult
• Higher self-confidence in social and emotional situations
• Better self-regulation and stronger, more authentic relationships with peers and mentors

Latino students bring real strengths into every classroom and every enrichment activity: resilience, bilingual fluency, tight-knit family support and a wide range of talents and perspectives. Expanded learning programs work best when they build on those strengths. It isn’t about fixing kids. It’s about handing them more tools, more mentors and more chances to discover what they’re already good at.

Building Leaders Through Enrichment, Mentorship and Community

Leadership rarely arrives fully formed. Students build it, activity by activity, through:

• Hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) projects that turn curiosity into confidence
• Arts and performance activities that give kids a voice
• Mentorship from program staff and coaches who reflect the communities they serve
• Team-based activities that teach collaboration and problem-solving
• Homework support that keeps kids on track without adding pressure

None of this requires a big stage. Often it looks like a site coordinator remembering a student’s name on day one, or a coach noticing a shy kid finally raise a hand. Multiply that across thousands of students in areas with the greatest needs and fewest resources, and the ripple effect on a community becomes significant.

Support LA’s BEST This Hispanic Heritage Month

One of the most direct ways to invest in Los Angeles’s next generation of Latino leaders is by supporting LA’s BEST Expanded Learning Program. LA’s BEST provides safe, enriching expanded learning experiences for children ages 4-12 across Los Angeles, working alongside families, school staff and community partners to help children make choices that keep them on a path to success in school and life.

Each year, LA’s BEST students take part in free before school, afterschool and summer activities spanning STEM, the arts, literacy, nutrition and more, at no cost to families. Our program approach is consistent: Prepare and inspire kids to build lives full of choices, rooted in the belief that every child deserves a safe place to grow.

Learn more about how to support our work or bring LA’s BEST programming to a school near you.

LA’s BEST Expanded Learning Program is a public-private partnership between the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Unified School District and our nonprofit, providing safe, enriching expanded learning experiences for children ages 4-12 at nearly 200 school sites across Los Angeles, at no cost to families. Support LA’s BEST to help provide the next generation of Los Angeles students with a safe place to learn, grow and lead.