Hispanic Heritage Month: Meet Katherine Kite
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating Hispanic and Latino contributions, culture, and history within the United States. The month highlights the diverse background of those with ancestors from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
In celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, we sat down with Katherine Kite, Leadership Giving Manager, to learn more about her story.
Why is Hispanic Heritage Month so important?
It is important to me because I’m 100% Hispanic, however, people don’t automatically associate me with being Hispanic especially living here in Indiana. I grew up in Texas where there were a lot of people who looked like me that were also Hispanic and I never had to battle that because it was part of the culture. Moving to Indiana was kind of a culture shock. I had to battle trying to figure out who am I here versus who do people think I am here. Celebrating that for me is important because it’s taken some time since moving here to own it, and before it was just a part of me and everyone got it because it was more common.
My family is from Mexico. Both of my parents second language was English. My mom lived in Mexico City most of her life and is part Spanish. My dad, whose family is originally from Mexico, is from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas where the border is 30 minutes away and has a large Hispanic culture.
How do you celebrate?
Instead of focusing on just the month, I try to celebrate every day, especially now that I have a child. I try to incorporate things I thought were normal when I was growing up but are deeply rooted in Hispanic culture. Cooking Mexican food, not just what people in Indiana would traditionally think, is a large part of the culture I try to embrace. Celebrating my heritage is really an interesting piece because I’ve had to think how I want to share that with my daughter.
Why is giving back to the community important to you?
Giving back is important because I know that no matter where you are in life that there are always people who are struggling that may need help. There are always ways to connect back to the community. Even doing small acts of kindness like paying for groceries for someone that is in front of you that you can tell may be struggling add up and make an impact.
Outside of United Way, what other organizations are you involved in or passionate about?
I was a professional ballet dancer before coming to United Way, so the arts are something I am very passionate about. I went to Butler and studied Arts Administration and danced professionally until I got injured. Supporting local arts organizations such as Dance Kaleidoscope is something I’m passionate about. Now having a small child, I’ve also become more involved and interested in organizations that impact young children.
Why is it important for our community to know more about our fellow neighbors with Hispanic heritage?
I think Indiana looks very different than other states. There may be people here that look like the traditional Hispanic neighbor that you know and then there might be others that look different. I think educating our community to understand that there are many different faces of the Hispanic culture, just like there are in other cultures, is incredibly important.
There are people who love tacos, and there’s Taco Tuesday, but why do we do that? People love Cinco de Mayo, but do they really know what that means and why we celebrate it? I think overall there is so much of Hispanic culture that’s been woven into American culture that people just don’t realize and think it’s part of it without learning about the culture or history.
How do you help raise awareness of Hispanic Heritage?
For me, I raise awareness through my child. My husband is white so my daughter is half white and half Mexican. When we Facetime my parents they talk to my daughter in Spanish. I actually don’t speak Spanish. Growing up my parents thought by having us speaking Spanish this would put us at a disadvantage. This unfortunately is a pretty common thing among my generation of Hispanic culture. A lot of my friends don’t speak Spanish. My cousins don’t speak Spanish because their parents were in the same scenario. I hate that that’s what happened. So I’m trying to engrain Hispanic culture into her life as much as possible. We want to raise her knowing that this is part of her heritage and to be proud of it.
How can others celebrate?
Ask questions and don’t assume. It’s easy to see what we see on TV or go to Mexican restaurants and make assumptions instead of talking to people. Just learning from people is a great way to celebrate. You don’t need to put on a big celebration, just learning about that extra layer of someone is a great way to celebrate their heritage.
Why are you passionate about United Way and our mission?
We do so much to help people in a tangible way. Our community wouldn’t exist in the same ways without our organization and our nonprofit partners – and to know that I am a small part of that is amazing.
What advice would you share for those considering ways to get involved in the Central Indiana and/or the Hispanic community – where to start?
When I first came to Indiana I was overwhelmed with where to start. I would recommend figuring out what you’re interested in and start there because Indy has it. From there you’ll quickly realize that there’s a community connected to so many broader organizations. You can’t go anywhere in the nonprofit community without knowing someone else. For getting involved in the Hispanic community I would recommend the Indiana Latino Expo. They have a really good pulse on the community and how to get involved.