Hispanic Heritage Month Culture Highlight: Cheyenne Delgado

Hi, my name is Cheyenne Delgado. I am mixed race, and my ethnic background consists of half African American from my mother's side and half Puerto Rican from my father's side. When my Abuela and Abuelo (grandma and grandpa) were 18, they moved to Connecticut to seek out better job opportunities. It took my Abuela a long time to improve her English-speaking skills and acclimate to a different culture.

My Abuelo passed when my Abuela was 30, and she had to be a single mother to 3 sons. I admire my Abuela so much because of her strength and perseverance. She worked incredibly hard to support, take care of her children, and adapt to American Culture/way of living. She continues to show me that you can still be in touch with your cultural roots while living somewhere else.?? For example, although my Abuela may not live in Puerto Rico, she will NEVER miss the 8pm showing of her novella (soap opera).

A huge way we embrace our Puerto Rican culture within my family is through watching novellas and spending quality time together. Every year, Hispanic Heritage month gives me the opportunity to learn more about my family's Puerto Rican Culture. Adding on to this, I am able to learn more about the vastly different Hispanic Heritages. I look forward to all that I will learn from my LGRA colleagues throughout this month!

- Cheyenne Delgado