National Hispanic Heritage Month is a proud tradition celebrated across the United States each year. It is a time for us to honor the history, culture and contributions of Hispanic Americans whose ancestors originate from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. This year, we’re spotlighting two employees of Hispanic descent who bring their rich cultural experiences to CapMetro, helping enlighten our teams and empower our community.
Marcus Guerrero, CapMetro’s Director of Facility Design & Construction, receives his Hispanic roots from his mother’s side. His mother was born in Tijuana and did not have the easiest childhood growing up in a rough border town. She wanted Marcus and his siblings to have opportunities that she never received as a child, and so she ensured he was raised and assimilated into American culture.
“She didn’t really raise us to be Mexican. We only spoke English in our house because she wanted us to fit into our neighborhood and schools we went to,” he says. However, Marcus would go on to establish a deeper connection with his Hispanic roots as an adult through his church community and workplace.
Our Technical Project Program Manager, Moraima Dones, was born and raised in Puerto Rico and holds celebrating her Hispanic culture very near and dear to her heart. “For me, Hispanic Heritage Month means a time to celebrate our cultures, traditions and histories and showcase how proud of a people we are,” she shares.
Moraima moved to the United States 30 years ago but has never lost sight of her traditions. She loves cooking for her family and friends, while Merengue and Salsa dancing remain common hobbies. Moraima’s biggest influences are Latina single mothers because, as one herself, she can relate to the many challenges that come with that commitment.
In Marcus’s childhood home, traditions like Hispanic Heritage Month and Cinco de Mayo were not celebrated. His Tijuana-born mother opted not to teach him Spanish, so for Marcus, time spent with her side of the family was difficult because of the gap in true communication. “We could only speak English, and they only spoke Spanish. We could all smile and laugh, but it was hard to relate fully and build a real relationship with each other,” he reflects. Once Marcus became an adult, he found more opportunities to rekindle his Mexican roots, even going on mission trips with his church to volunteer in areas of South Texas like Harlingen where a many Mexicans live in poverty. Through these new experiences and interactions, Marcus has fostered new relationships within the Hispanic community.
For Moraima, sharing her Hispanic heritage with others always brings her great joy. “I cook arroz con gandules (Puerto Rican rice), pernil (roasted pork), flan and pasteles. I love sharing my dishes with coworkers,” she says. She introduces others to Puerto Rican-style music and artists, including Gilberto Santa Rosa, Víctor Manuelle, Elvis Crespo, and Bad Bunny. She’s also known to hit the dance floor on karaoke nights, teaching people how to dance the traditional Puerto Rican style.
Arroz Con Gandules Recipe: https://www.delishdlites.com/occasion/holiday-recipes/arroz-con-gandules-puerto-rican-rice-with-pigeon-peas-recipe/
Moraima moved to Austin as a single mother, aspiring to provide her children with the best possible future. “It was very hard, but nothing stopped me. Now they are adults, have graduated from school, and accomplished a lot,” she says proudly. Her advice for the new generation is to never give up on heritage. The Hispanic community has accomplished great things in the U.S. by working hard, raising their voices, and contributing to this country. “We did it in the past, we’ve done it for centuries, so we need to keep doing that the right way,” she implored.
As Hispanic Heritage Month closes out, Marcus and Moraima’s stories remind us why sharing our cultures is so important. Our heritage shows us who we are, where we’ve been, and what we can achieve together as a community. CapMetro is proud to showcase these lessons as we continue to bring the Austin community closer together every day!
