Every fall, programs across the country mark Hispanic Heritage Month with decorations, food, or a cultural performance. Those things aren’t bad, but they often only scratch the surface. For Latino youth, real belonging doesn’t come from a one-time event. It comes from being valued, heard, and celebrated every day.

So, it’s up to us as caring adults to make Hispanic Heritage Month more than decorations and cultural events. We can create lasting belonging for Latino youth. This blog shares four practical ways you as a youth worker can go deeper, moving beyond surface-level celebrations to authentic connection and empowerment.

Consider these four ways you can make this – and every – month more meaningful for young people in your program.

1. Let youth lead the storytelling

Instead of deciding which traditions or histories to highlight, flip the script. Invite young people to share their own stories. It could be about family journeys, cultural traditions, or the ups and downs of growing up bicultural. The format doesn’t have to be one-size-fits-all. Some youth may want to write poetry, others might create art, record a short video, or even run a social media takeover.

Your role is to provide tools, encouragement, and an audience that listens. When young people get to tell their own stories and know those stories matter, it creates a sense of belonging that no poster or performance can match.

2. Talk about real challenges

Hispanic Heritage Month is about pride in Latine culture, celebrating achievements, and recognizing the people creating change. It’s also about acknowledging reality. Many Latino youth deal with language barriers, discrimination, or the pressure of balancing two cultures. By creating safe spaces to talk about these experiences in your programs, you show them that their whole identity is welcome.

One simple way is through dialogue circles. Give everyone a chance to speak using a talking piece, and ask prompts like:

• When have you felt proud of your heritage?
• What’s a challenge you’ve faced because of your identity?
• What helps you feel safe to share your culture here?

Or just invite the young people to come up with their own prompts. Let the young people speak. They don’t need you to have the answers. They just need you to listen. And to create the space for their stories to be heard and appreciated. This sends a powerful message: You matter, and your story is important here.

3. Bring in Latino role models

Representation makes a difference. Young people need to see people who look like them thriving in different paths. Whether that’s in art, business, education, or community leadership, there are role models willing to share their experiences with youth. Don’t just book a guest speaker for one day. Instead, look for ways to create ongoing connections.

Invite local leaders to mentor small groups, lead workshops, or collaborate on projects. These interactions help youth imagine their own futures and build real networks of support. It’s practical as well as inspiring to show young people what’s possible in their own communities.

4. Weave culture into everyday activities in your programs

Belonging happens when culture is part of the daily rhythm, not just a theme week. Start small: add bilingual signs, greet youth in both Spanish and English, and include Latino contributions in the activities you already run.

For example, highlight Latino scientists during a STEM activity or feature Latino artists in your art projects. These small choices send a big signal that Latino culture is not an add-on, it’s an essential part of who we are as a community.

A deeper kind of celebration

Hispanic Heritage Month is a great chance to celebrate, but it’s also an opportunity to go deeper. By letting youth lead, opening honest conversations, connecting them with role models, and weaving culture into everyday activities in your programs, you create a space where Latino youth feel included, seen, and supported every day.

Take the initiative to go beyond the basics. Try one of these ideas with your young people and see how it shifts their sense of belonging in your program. YIPA offers a variety of intercultural awareness trainings for youth workers. Explore our whole Intercultural Engagement collection for more thought-provoking ideas. The impact of your effort will last far beyond Hispanic Heritage Month.

That’s what real belonging looks like.