Reflections on Hispanic Heritage Month
“I want to always honor the sacrifices of my ancestors to make a better, kinder and just world…While we have made much progress, we shall not take it for granted and continue to renew our commitment to build a legacy of gratitude, perspective, collaboration, individual and community development, and justice for all.”
My name is Veronica Reid, and I have been in the USA for 18 years. Hispanic Heritage month is important for me as I get to reflect about my heritage and take pride in both my German and Chilean native indigenous heritage (Mapuche). I celebrate Chile, a beautiful country full of mountains, beaches and generous and hard working people!
My grandmother migrated from Germany to Chile before WWII. At an early age, I cried knowing that some of family members loss their life and that millions of people had to experience the Holocaust.
Living in Chile, I experienced exile and violence differently, as South America had to endure dictatorships. I was aware that moving to another country was difficult, given my family's experience, but also because one of my best friends migrated from Cuba to Chile.
I knew that moving to the USA as an adult would be challenging, but I didn’t know how difficult it would be. When I first arrived, I didn't speak English and while I had traveled to Europe and had visited the USA, living as an immigrant was a completely different experience.
My personal journey has given me perspective, faith, humor, gratitude and a renewed commitment to develop leadership, language justice, accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion. I want to always honor the sacrifices of my ancestors to make a better, kinder and just world. I pause to remind myself how incredibly fortunate I am to live in a space where I have access to clean water, education and democracy.
While we have made much progress, we shall not take it for granted and continue to renew our commitment to build a legacy of gratitude, perspective, collaboration, individual and community development, and justice for all.
Pictured are Veronica Reid and her son Matias Reid with the Chilean Flag in the mountain, Cerro Manquehue in Santiago, Chile.
Veronica Reid
Veronica is the Director of our South Richmond Leaders Fellowship. She develops material that supports equity and inclusion and assists marginalized Hispanic Communities to be engaged with the work of RVA Thrives and identify solutions that matter to them. Through her career, she has empowered people to find their voices, develop new skills, imagine, and build a better future. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.
Reach her at veronica@vacommunityvoice.org.