Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month: Past, Present, and Future
By Dr. Annie Martínez, Esq.
A Month of Reflection and Celebration
Each year, from September 15th to October 15th, we observe Hispanic Heritage Month, a time in which we honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestry traces back to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, as well as Central and South America. The dates themselves are symbolic: September 15th marks the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with Mexico’s independence celebrated on September 16th and Chile’s on September 18th.
The celebration of Hispanic Heritage began as a week-long commemoration in 1968 and was expanded to a month in 1988, reflecting not only the growth of the Hispanic population but also the recognition of its profound role in shaping our shared national story.
Hispanic Roots in Colorado and Denver
Here in Colorado, Hispanic and Latine history runs deep. Long before Colorado’s statehood, Spanish-speaking settlers and Indigenous communities shaped the cultural and legal landscape of the region. The San Luis Valley, home to Colorado’s oldest town, aptly named San Luis, reflects centuries of Hispanic heritage.
In Denver, Chicano civil rights leaders like Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales challenged systemic inequities and helped create movements that continue to influence law, education, and public policy today. Our legal system in Colorado cannot be separated from this legacy of resilience, advocacy, and the pursuit of justice.
The Colorado Hispanic Bar Association
Founded in 1977, the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association (CHBA) has been at the forefront of supporting Hispanic and Latine attorneys, law students, and communities across the state. The CHBA has focused on mentoring young lawyers, advocating for judicial diversity, and advancing policies that promote equity, aiding in creating both a professional home and a powerful voice for Hispanic attorneys. Its work underscores the truth that representation in the legal profession is not symbolic; it’s transformative.
If you are interesting in supporting direct scholarships for law students who have shown a commitment to the Colorado Hispanic and Latino community, you can donate to the CHBA Foundation at https://chba.net/donate/donate-to-the-chba-foundation/. As a 100% volunteer-run organization, more than 99% of funds go directly to students with financial need.
Perspectives From the Community
To mark this month, we asked the two most recent past presidents of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association as well as a long-time CHBA member and DBA BoG Appointee to share their reflections:
Past President & Attorney, Crowell Moring | Amber Gonzales
How my identity as a Latina has shaped the way I approach my legal career/role in the profession.
Being Latina is not what I am, but a part of who I am. I cannot leave it at the door. So, my Latinidad comes with me everywhere and is present in all parts of my career. My lived experience is very different from a typical lawyer. It allows me to see problems through lenses that my colleagues may not possess. Creative problem solving is a valuable asset and we know—both anecdotally and through research—that diverse teams are best at problem solving because diverse perspectives give them many ways to approach the same problem. My diversity is a strength.
Role of CHBA in professional journey and what it offers younger attorneys and law students today.
The CHBA has been my “home” since I was a 1L at CU Law. Regardless of your practice area or employer, lawyers work really, really hard. It can be lonely to spend so much of your life devoted to a profession that your non-lawyer family and friends do not understand. Building a community is essential to finding your footing in the profession. That is amplified when you are a diverse attorney. We see so few reflections of ourselves in the law. Despite Latinos making up nearly 20% of the U.S. population, we are only 6% of attorneys, and only 2.5% of attorneys are Latina women. CHBA connected me with other Latino attorneys who face the same challenges, have similar backgrounds, and who share cultural experiences. The relationships I built through CHBA even led me to an awesome opportunity to work with one of the few Latina equity partners in Denver, Meshach Rhoades.
As an organization we work really hard to encourage law students and young attorneys to join our community. Every year CHBA hosts a “Back to School BBQ” in the fall where we invite law students and undergrads interested in law school to meet attorneys and judges. The only agenda is building relationships. Our Young Lawyers Division is one of our most active committees and puts on regular social events, mock trials, resume reviews, and panels for law students. We are confident that our young attorneys and law students will be more successful when they know they have an entire community in their corner. There may be few of us, but we do not have to do it alone.
Opportunities/challenges for Latino attorneys in current political climate.
I recently attended the Hispanic National Bar Association’s annual conference where nearly a thousand Latino attorneys gather each September. It is always an inspiration. This year, during a panel on the challenges our community is currently facing, the moderator mentioned that 80% of Latinos in the U.S. are citizens. Eighty percent! And this does not include the myriad other types of lawful presence in this nation. I was floored at this figure, and embarrassed at my own surprise. Xenophobic and racist rhetoric has become mainstream to the point where it is impacting even how we think of ourselves.
As a longstanding part of CHBA leadership, I feel the weight of our community looking to us for guidance. But, this is why organizations like CHBA are so important. Our leadership has done a great job of continuing to provide our regular monthly pro bono clinic, add new know your rights workshops, file amicus briefs, work to diversify the bench, and publicly speak out against the ongoing attacks on DEI, such as DU Law’s recent decision to remove all “DEI criteria” from scholarships, including those with private endowments raised for the purpose of leveling the playing field for underrepresented students.
Advice for next generation on leadership and navigating the profession.
The legal profession is unlike any other because we expect for one another to be involved, give back, perform pro bono work, take on leadership, mentor, and maintain high ethical standards. I would encourage the next generation to jump in with both feet. There is much work to be done! Attorneys have special skills that I believe indebt us to use our voice for those who may not have their own yet. It is not a burden; it is a privilege.
Judge & DBA representative for CBA Board of Governors | Hon. Jonathan Lucero
How has your identity as a Hispanic/Latine attorney shaped your career and role in the profession?
My identity as a Hispanic attorney provides humble motivation to always keep my culture at the forefront of my mind when interacting with those community members when they are appearing in my courtroom. Court can be a very intimidating place for anybody, especially if you don’t speak English. Perhaps it can be as simple as greeting someone in the Spanish language or pronouncing a person’s name in a culturally competent manner to be enough to dissolve some of that anxiety. As an attorney, many-many hours were spent volunteering late into the evening at legal clinics to serve those Spanish speaking communities that didn’t know where to turn to start their legal journey.
What advice would you give to the next generation of Hispanic attorneys?
To the next generation of Hispanic attorneys, if you see a turtle on a fencepost, you know one thing. It did not get there by itself. Remember how you got to where you are by then taking effort to lift others up too. Volunteer and serve both the legal community and non-legal community. Use your talents for good to make the profession and the world a better place for humanity.
Immediate Past President & Counsel, Western Union | Mercedes Pineda
What role has the CHBA played in your professional journey, and what do you think it offers younger attorneys and law students today?
For me – community and mentorship. I have formed so many friendships and relationships through my involvement in CHBA. I’ve always found it a welcoming community that continuously tries to lift up its membership. I think that support is so crucial in a career that is challenging and at times lonely, especially for diverse attorneys. I am so grateful for the members who have taken the time out to meet with me when I’ve needed guidance on my own career. CHBA still provides this community and even has a formal Mentorship Taskforce that I think young attorneys and law students can benefit from.
What advice would you give to the next generation of Hispanic attorneys who are stepping into leadership and navigating the profession during these uncertain times?
Build your community. Remember everyone who came before you and forged the path and continue to support those who come after.
Looking Ahead
Hispanic and Latine attorneys are not just participants in the legal system; we are architects, advocates, judges, professors, and leaders who continue to shape it. Our community is inseparable from the fabric of Colorado and the United States as a whole. At a time when the humanity of our communities is too often politicized or dismissed, we remind the profession and the public alike that our contributions are indispensable, our perspectives are vital, and our presence is permanent.
The legal profession must reflect and defend the dignity of all people. That includes pushing back firmly, clearly, and unapologetically when rhetoric or policy undermines the humanity of immigrants, Latine families, or any marginalized group. Hispanic Heritage Month is more than a celebration of culture; it is a call to action for justice, belonging, and the recognition of our shared humanity.
