¡Cinco Años de Sazón! Five Years of Honoring Latinx & Hispanic Cultures at Instacart

From September 15 through October 15, we celebrated Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Month at Instacart. Championed by Sazón, our Employee Resource Group (ERG) dedicated to the Latinx community, this year's activities were anchored under the theme - honoring leadership, celebrating culture, and building community. Sazón also celebrated "¡Cinco Años de Sazón!," or five years of Sazón being an official ERG at Instacart!

The activities planned for the month aligned with Sazón's mission of fostering a sense of belonging, celebrating cultural richness, and nurturing personal development for its members. Leaning into Instacart's Flex First working model, employees could join events virtually or in-person.

The month kicked-off with a taste of Colombia. Members were invited to an arepa cooking class hosted by arepa company Angel de mi Guarda Arepas. Led by a Sazón member and her dad, owner of the arepa company, members cooked a memorable meal together and were reminded of the joy of bringing friends and family together over food that is common in the Latinx & Hispanic communities.

The next event featured a panel discussion with Latinx & Hispanic senior leaders at Instacart, speaking about their leadership journeys and how they've been able to challenge the status quo throughout their careers. Members expressed appreciation for hearing personal career stories from leaders in roles they are working towards. It also gave those senior leaders a chance to connect with members beyond their day-to-day work.

Focusing on professional development, Sazón welcomed Rodney Tabares, a Latinx leader in the tech industry, for an intimate fireside chat exploring how he overcame adversity by turning his passion for tech into a successful career. The conversation explored challenges faced by Latinx talent in the tech industry, insights from Rodney's personal story of resilience and determination, and actionable strategies and practical advice for aspiring Latinx tech professionals to navigate these challenges.

Earlier in the month, some Sazón members met for a virtual happy hour and we also hosted in-person happy hours at our New York City, San Francisco, and Toronto offices. These events are always a favorite amongst members to further deepen connections and build community at Instacart.

Continuing with the theme of education and giving back, Sazón members hosted a special virtual event with La Maestra, a San Diego nonprofit making a profound difference in the Latinx community in Southern California. Members who attended were encouraged to log their volunteer hours in Deed, Instacart's platform for employee giving and volunteering. Through the platform, employees were also able to donate to a nonprofit of their choice, including La Maestra.

Wrapping up the month, Sazón partnered with Instacart's Advocates@ ERG, a group celebrating and uplifting diverse voices through programming focused on diversity training, development, and social impact, for a cross-ERG social justice book club event. The ERG members read For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts, by Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez, a book addressing the challenges Brown girls face, from imposter syndrome to colorism, amongst other things.

"Ultimately, our goal was to inspire colleagues to become more culturally aware, empathetic, and engaged to ensure we have an equitable workplace where every individual feels seen," said Rebecca Valdivieso, Sazón ERG Co-lead and CX Training Facilitator at Instacart. "I hope that this month's programming served as a platform for open dialogue, understanding, and celebration of Latinx and Hispanic cultures."

Bonus! We asked a few members, "What is a food or recipe that reminds you of the country your family is from?," and their responses are below.