In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed Hispanic Heritage Week. In 1988, it was expanded under President Ronald Reagan and enacted into law, according to the Library of Congress.
Between that two-decade span, The Options Clearing Corporation, now the world’s largest equity derivatives clearing organization, was founded. Today, the organization joins tech companies nationwide in celebrating the holiday meant to honor the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Included in such? The fact that Latino small business owners are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S., according to USA Today.
OCC recognizes the celebration a few different ways. Through the business’s charitable giving program, they are able to support nonprofits with a mission to improve education among youths who have immigrated to the U.S. and provide services like parent empowerment. But for OCC employees, it’s the Latino diversity seminars and additional awareness opportunities that hit close to home.
“We hope to elevate awareness about the need for greater representation of Latinx people in the workplace and how to inclusively recruit and develop Latinx talent,” Alison Bodor, executive principal of DEI at OCC, told Built In.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, what is your company doing this year to celebrate and honor the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans throughout history?
The OCC has engaged with Latinx employee resource groups in the financial services industry to identify opportunities to collaborate and share best practices on how to observe Hispanic Heritage Month. In addition, OCC has partnered with the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE) to offer a Latino Diversity Seminar to our colleagues. By doing so, we hope to elevate awareness about the need for greater representation of Latinx people in the workplace and how to inclusively recruit and develop Latinx talent.
What other activities or charitable initiatives do you have planned for Hispanic Heritage Month?
Edu-Futuro, a nonprofit organization that helps ensure immigrant youth and families attain postsecondary goals and improve long-term financial stability, is part of OCC’s charitable giving program. This program gives the opportunity for OCC colleagues to donate time and money to employee-nominated nonprofits, with OCC matching donations dollar for dollar. During Hispanic Heritage Month, OCC aims to boost awareness about giving to Edu-Futuro, as well as highlight statistics on immigrant youth education attainment and barriers first-generation families face.
We hope to elevate awareness about the need for greater representation of Latinx people in the workplace.’’
What are some ongoing programs, initiatives or benefits your company offers to support and empower Hispanic and Latino employees throughout the year?
OCC is committed to evolving our culture of inclusion and investing in our talent’s equitable development. In 2021, OCC nominated and sponsored Latinx colleagues to participate in leadership accelerator programs, such as Emerging Latino Leaders Program and Mujeres de HACE (Women’s Leadership) offered by HACE. Our colleagues benefit from receiving peer mentorship, leadership development and building a strategic network.
