Meet the Leads of SnapFamilia

Beginning in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week,” but was later extended to a month in 1988. It is now celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15 and recognizes the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. The American Latinx/é community celebrates nationwide through festivals, art shows, conferences, community gatherings, and much more.

This year’s theme is Building Prosperous and Healthy Communities. Each week, a different topic will be highlighted to build upon the theme:

• Week of September 19: Jobs and the Economy??
• Week of September 26: Climate
• Week of October 3: Education and Investing in HSIs???
• Week of October 10: Mental Health and Wellness?

To honor HHM we sat down with the leads of SnapFamilia? — the ERG that empowers, uplifts, and celebrates the unique diversity of Snap’s Hispanic and Latinx/é community —? to find out why they joined the ERG and why they think it’s important to for Snap (and Snapchatters) to engage with Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month.?

Christian Rodriguez (He/Him) | SnapFamilia, 1st Term

Title: Account Manager | Location: New York

Why SnapFamilia? I joined Snapfamilia because it's important for our community to have representation within Snap. We're few in numbers and I know that leading an ERG can seem daunting, given our current workloads as it's essentially a second position, but I know that Unidos Somos Más Fuertes (united we're stronger).

Proudest accomplishment? My proudest moment leading SnapFamilia has been organizing a fireside chat to discuss the importance of embracing our unique backgrounds specifically for our roles. Our perspective is valued and unique and we shouldn't be ashamed of it - we should leverage it! I'm also really proud of the experiences we've been able to provide for our ERG members. We recently set up a private advanced screening of Warner Bros. Blue Beetle for SnapFamilia.

Why is it important for Snap (and Snapchatters) to engage with Hispanic Heritage Month? It's important for us to have our backgrounds highlighted because of the stereotypes that are still present in society. HHM brings awareness to our diverse cultures and the extensive histories of our communities.

Fun fact? I love learning languages. There's something special about each culture's language, and I hope to one day be able to be hyperpolyglot (someone who can speak at least six languages with fluency). I'm currently trilingual, so I'm halfway there.

Irene Ortega (She/Her) | SnapFamilia Global, 1st Term

Title: Software Engineer | Location: Palo Alto

What does SnapFamilia mean to you? I joined Snapfamilia back in 2021 in order to feel a sense of belonging at Snap. I felt the importance of representing my culture within the company and meeting my hemanxs. For me, an ERG gives communities the ability to network, celebrate our culture, and simply be there for each other.

What's been your favorite moment with the group? My favorite moment with Snapfamilia was attending the Latinas in Tech Summit of 2023 in San Francisco. This event reinforced the idea of bringing your authentic self to the workplace and beyond. I got the unique opportunity to connect with other Latinas from all over the US within different roles at Snap. We bonded with shared moments of sisterhood. I also thoroughly enjoy getting to meet new SnapFamilia members during our monthly meetings.

Why do you think it's important that Snap (and Snapchatters) engage with Hispanic Heritage Month?? Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to learn about the rich heritage and rid the misconceptions and generalizations within the Hispanic/Latinx communities. This month gives every Snapchatter the ability to represent their culture and define what it means to really show up for themselves and each other. The opportunities are endless when we come together, share, connect, and celebrate with one another.

What's a fun fact about you/special interest you have? I am really into physics and specifically quantum mechanics and its philosophical implications. I am always open to a good read and an open-minded debate!