Estela Ortega, Executive Director of El Centro de la Raza , doesn't describe her career in terms of titles or accolades. She describes it in terms of what needed to be done. "No task is beneath you," she says, "whether it's answering the phones, sweeping, mopping floors, cooking." For 53 years, Estela has shown up for El Centro de la Raza and she's still showing up. The organization began not with a board meeting or a grant, but with a peaceful occupation. In 1972, a group of

National Hispanic Heritage Month starts today and last through October 15th. This month was established to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Spanish, Mexican, Caribbean, and people of Central and South American ancestry. Starting as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, it was later expanded to include an entire month in 1988. While "Hispanic" is the official term used to describe heritage, it has a problematic history rooted in mislabeling, cultural erasure,