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Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Thursday, September 15 to Saturday, October 15 with the goal of celebrating all Latin cultures, their contributions and influence, and their history. The observation of Hispanic Heritage Month began in 1968 and is anchored on September 15 because it is the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with Mexico and Chile celebrating September 16 and 18.

There are many opportunities to learn and celebrate in our area! Below are details on a few of the many upcoming Hispanic Heritage Month events:

To wrap up Hispanic Heritage Month, Norsan Media is hosting the 10th Annual Hola Charlotte Festival in uptown Charlotte on Saturday, October 15 from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm.  This celebration highlights Latin American culture and features entertainment, food, and more.  To learn more, visit the festival website.

Also on Saturday, October 15, the town of Matthews is hosting Música Matthews in Stumptown Park from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. This event includes Latin music and dancing, food trucks, and arts and crafts. Learn more about the event on the Town of Matthews website.

Round out the celebration on Saturday, October 15 with Latin Night at Camp North End from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.  This event will feature live music, food, and dancing.  To learn more, visit the event page on Facebook.

The Concord International Festival has been rescheduled for Saturday, October 22 from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. This event will feature music, dance, and food from a variety of cultures, including several Latin cultures. Learn more here.

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Janet LaBar

Executive Director​
jlabar@womensimpactfund.org

With more than 25 years of experience, Janet has a proven track record of leading organizations and teams in developing strategies that foster thriving communities. Her career is dedicated to the well-being of the places she serves, and the people and businesses within them, positioning her as a trusted sounding board, critical thinker, and purposeful protagonist across corporate, government, education, entrepreneurial, and civic spheres.
Janet joined Women’s Impact Fund in June 2025 to guide one of Charlotte’s most respected, women-led philanthropic organizations into its next phase of growth and impact. In partnership with the Women’s Impact Fund team, Board, Advisors, members, volunteers, and key community partners, she will continue strengthening communities by maximizing women’s leadership in philanthropy through collective giving, education, and engagement.
Inspired by her family, teams who dare greatly, and people and communities striving to be their best selves, Janet’s impactful career includes leadership roles as President and CEO of Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, President and CEO of Greater Portland Inc, and Chief Performance Officer of Greater Phoenix Economic Council. As a first-generation Filipino American, her lived experience deeply informs her professional drive to create equitable economic growth and opportunity in the metro areas she’s served.
She holds a BA in Communication Arts from the University of West Florida and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. Janet and her husband James are proud parents to an older daughter, and a daughter and son who are twins.