Webinarios del Mes de la Herencia Hispana 2026 ~ Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 Webinar Series
UC ANR LatinX & Friends ERG and News and Information Outreach in Spanish invites you to join our Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 webinar series, celebrating Latino identity, language, agriculture, community resilience, and the power of culturally relevant outreach.
This year’s theme, inspired by the symbolism of The Three Sisters — corn, beans, and squash — honors our roots while recognizing the strength that comes from connection, balance,e and collective growth. The series will feature conversations on Latino identity and the future of Spanish in the United States, Latino leadership in organic agriculture, effective community engagement during difficult times, and the lasting impact of UC CalFresh Healthy Living educators in Latino communities. Don’t miss out on this chance to learn, connect, and celebrate with us!
Are Latinos in the USA in crisis?
When: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Where: Via Zoom – register here
Time: 12 – 1:30 PM
This Hispanic Heritage Month webinar will explore two urgent questions facing Latino communities in the United States today: how Latinos see themselves in America, and whether the Spanish language is being lost across generations.
The conversation is inspired by a recent Pew Research Center report, “U.S. Hispanics Are Divided on Whether Their Identity Helps or Hurts Them in America,” which examines how Latino adults describe their identity, how important being Hispanic is to their sense of self, and whether they believe that identity helps, hurts or makes no difference in their ability to get ahead.
The webinar will also reflect on José López Zamorano’s article for La Red Hispana, “¿Se está perdiendo el español en Estados Unidos?”, which raises concerns about the decline of Spanish use among U.S.-born Latino generations and frames Spanish as a cultural, family and community asset.
Together, these two pieces invite a deeper conversation about identity, language, belonging, discrimination, bilingualism and the future of Latino culture in the United States.
About the guest speakers:
Dr. Ana Celia Zentella is a linguist and Professor Emerita of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, San Diego. She is widely recognized for her work in anthro-political linguistics, U.S. Latino varieties of Spanish and English, Spanglish, bilingualism, language socialization in Latino families, and language rights. Her scholarship has examined how language, identity, culture and power intersect in Latino communities.
Dr. Isidro Ortiz is a Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies at San Diego State University. A political scientist by training, he earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University and has published on Chicano political activism, community organization, educational reform, Chicana/o politics and student success. His work as a scholar-activist has focused heavily on education, civic engagement and the political experiences of Chicano and Latino communities.
Pew Research Center report:
https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2026/07/09/u-s-hispanics-are-divided-on-whether-their-identity-helps-or-hurts-them-in-america/
La Red Hispana article:
https://laredhispana.org/la-columna/se-esta-perdiendo-el-espanol-en-estados-unidos/
Proudly Latino and Organic: A Conversation with Tony Serrano, President of JAS Family Farms Organics.
When: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Where: via Zoom – register here
This conversation, held in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, will feature Tony Serrano, founder of JAS Family Farms Organics, a pioneering Latino organic producer whose story reflects resilience, family, entrepreneurial spirit, and the future of sustainable agriculture in California. Tony will share his experience growing up in the agricultural workforce, building and managing an organic farm with his family, creating jobs in his community, overcoming challenges, and continuing to navigate the realities of today’s agricultural landscape. The conversation will also highlight his collaboration with F3 and UC ANR, and how partnerships can help strengthen small farms, Latino-owned agricultural businesses, local food systems, and opportunities for future generations.
About Our Guest:
Tony Serrano is the founder, president, and CEO of JAS Family Farms Organics, a second-generation family farm based in Salinas, California. Born in Jalisco, Mexico, and raised in the farmlands of California, Tony grew up learning farm work from a very young age and later founded JAS Family Farms Organics in 2014 with the goal of creating a family-centered farming operation based on hard work, organic production, and respect for the land. Today, JAS grows certified organic vegetables using regenerative methods and provides employment opportunities for more than 100 people.
Reaching Out and Engaging Latino Communities During Difficult Times
When: Thursday, October 1, 2026
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.,
Where: Via Zoom – register here
This Hispanic Heritage Month webinar will explore how UC ANR and its community partners can strengthen their efforts to inform, connect with and better serve Latino communities during difficult times.
The conversation will include key findings from the NOS audience survey, especially how Spanish-speaking Latino communities prefer to receive information, which topics matter most to them an,d which communication channels generate the most trust.
The goal is to open a practical conversation about how to strengthen outreach, community, partnerships, and meaningful engagement with Latino communities in California.
Presenters
Luz María Gallegos, TODEC Legal Center
Luz María Gallegos is the Executive Director of TODEC Legal Center, an organization that serves immigrant, farmworker, and underserved communities in Southern California. Her perspective will bring firsthand experience in community trust-building, immigrant advocacy, emergency response, and culturally relevant outreach under difficult circumstances.
Beatriz “Bea” Palmer, TrueCare
Beatriz Palmer is the Senior Director of Community Engagement at TrueCare, where she leads community engagement efforts in San Diego and Riverside counties. Her work focuses on strategic partnerships, access to health care, community wellness, and connecting families with trusted services and resources.
Ricardo Vela, UC ANR News and Information Outreach in Spanish
Ricardo Vela is the Manager of UC ANR’s News and Information Outreach in Spanish, known as NOS, where he leads Spanish-language communication strategies to connect UC ANR research, programs and resources with Latino communities. A two-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, he brings decades of media experience to science communication and community engagement.
Honor Where Honor Is Due: The Impact of Planting Healthy Practices in Latino Communities
When: Thursday, October 15, 2026
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Where: Via Zoom – register here
This webinar will celebrate their impact across different counties in California and highlight how, through nutrition education, physical activity, cooking classes, community gardens, and other outreach efforts, they helped Latino families adopt healthier practices, strengthen community trust, and improve their quality of life. Each year, during Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize a UC ANR professional as Latino/a of the Year. But this year, as the UC CalFresh Healthy Living program comes to an end within UC ANR, it is only fitting to recognize the Latino community educators who put their heart and soul into bringing science-based information to our communities.
This webinar will celebrate their impact across different counties in California and highlight how, through nutrition education, physical activity, cooking classes, community gardens and other outreach efforts, they helped Latino families adopt healthier practices, strengthen community trust and improve their quality of life.