In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, observed each year from September 15 through October 15, we're highlighting the vital contributions and voices of the Hispanic and Latino communities within associations and beyond.

In many Latino communities, the answer to “How do I figure this out?” starts with another question: “¿Quién me puede ayudar?” (“Who can help me?”). A family member asks for a job recommendation; a tía or tío helps a new arrival navigate an unfamiliar system. While these exchanges seem informal, together they create a powerful community infrastructure built on confianza (trust), shared responsibility, and conexiones (connections).

As Latinos, we think and speak in the language of community, a language rooted in family and vecindarios (neighborhoods). Over time, these relationships evolve into resilient networks of mutual support and shared knowledge. We share information, gather, and help one another navigate systemic barriers. Comunidad fosters a deep sense of belonging alongside something deeply practical: access to people and opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach.

As Justin put it, “Nobody in my family used the phrase ‘professional network.’ What we had was a plaza, a church, a feed store, and a set of tíos who knew who to call. When I needed something, the answer was never a directory. It was a name. At the root, that is what our association communities are about: sharing a space with like-minded professionals and linking leaders to impact the communities we represent and serve.”

Professional associations operate on this exact principle. They function as communities of shared purpose, enabling members to exchange industry knowledge, build trust, and collapse the degrees of separation between strangers. Crucially, they answer the perennial question every professional faces: “How do I meet the right people?”

These networks transcend distance. One example: Earlier this year, Maria, a volunteer with the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) Charlotte chapter, reached out looking for help. A close family friend had been detained at an ICE detention center near Houston, and the family was searching for bilingual Texas immigration attorneys experienced with detention cases.

Justin immediately thought of colleagues in Texas. Within a short time, they tapped into their networks and provided several trusted attorney referrals that resulted in a reunited family. That’s the power of comunidad: trusted relationships that reach far beyond our own zip codes.

True community, however, must be reciprocal. Members should not only receive guidance and resources but also have meaningful opportunities to share their wisdom, welcome newcomers, and invest in the collective ecosystem. When an association intentionally builds this infrastructure, individual relationships yield collective impact. Members become more invested in one another and deeply committed to the organization’s mission.

People who experience this kind of support often become the ones providing it. That is also how community creates leaders. Anabel sees that cycle through her work connecting members with volunteer and leadership opportunities. “In my current role, one of my responsibilities is helping members find their way into volunteering and leadership opportunities. But that responsibility extends beyond my job title,” she said. “I am the elder hermana and the amiga people call when they need help navigating a situation.”

Anabel now shares the same knowledge, guidance, and support that she grew up with, hoping the next person feels prepared to step forward, use their voice, and grow into a leader. That is how community sustains itself.

Organizations that dedicate genuine leadership, resources, and care toward cultivating member communities will see vibrant networks take root across their vecindarios. A well-tended community infrastructure produces a virtuous cycle, generating the kind of authentic, enduring human connection that artificial intelligence can never replicate.

Sometimes the clearest evidence of a strong professional community is that the relationship eventually becomes about more than work. Francisco experienced this firsthand:

“After several years of gathering in person and virtually to deliver legal update sessions at the annual conference of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), the same small group of National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) members—Loretta, Lorena, Augie, and I—developed a strong bond. We now have a running text thread where we share life updates, photos of kids and grandkids, holiday greetings, along with critical updates affecting our sector and our association. And, of course, big abrazos and big laughs are shared when we gather in person. The work continues to get done along with a healthy dose of human connection.”

We are all community builders. Just like in our families and vecindarios, meaningful connection isn’t built from the sidelines or managed from a directory; it is made by hand, through shared effort, vulnerability, and sustained commitment. So, get your hands in the masa.

When we show up ready to answer “¿Quién me puede ayudar?” we do more than simply network; we create spaces of belonging, open doors for the next generation, and transform professional associations into true communities of trust and purpose. This is the enduring human work that sustains our organizations, and it only happens when everyone has a seat at the table.