I grew up in a small city by the ocean on the japanese facet of Cuba. It was a easy, but fulfilling childhood, the place I spent my free time making jewellery from outdated buttons, tending to my cactus assortment, and exploring the sand and waves. I attended the University of Havana, but it surely wasn’t till I moved to the U.S. and began my profession within the tech trade as an internet producer in Miami, Florida within the late 90s that I noticed I had grow to be half of a bigger and extra numerous neighborhood.

My position again then was to create authentic content material and construct digital experiences for Latin America and the Hispanic viewers within the U.S. As I developed significant relationships with different Latino folks and people within the United States with Latin American heritage, my social circle grew to become much more numerous, representing a variety of wealthy cultures. Five years later, I moved to Redmond, Washington once I was employed by Microsoft to launch and lead MSN Latino, the Spanish model of MSN for the U.S. Once once more, my private id expanded, and I used to be in a position to expertise the distinction within the Hispanic demographic between the West and East Coast. Over time, my accent modified. My vocabulary modified. Despite the variations, I developed a deeper appreciation for what Hispanic folks have in widespread: our shared household values, our sturdy work ethic, our traditions, and our sense of duty. Today, I establish not solely as Cuban, however Latina and Hispanic American.

In 2012, I joined Xbox because the Director of Programming for the Latin American area. My crew was accountable for curating and publishing localized content material for our passionate Xbox viewers. The first console launch I used to be a part of was the Xbox One. It was an exciting expertise to journey throughout Latin America and immediately join with players simply after the console’s launch. Currently, I lead a multidisciplinary crew because the General Manager for Customer Experience with Microsoft Gaming. Next 12 months, I’ll have fun 20 years with Microsoft.

I’m proud to signify Latinas and girls in management. Paving the best way as a foreign-born girl in a male-dominated trade has been no straightforward activity, however gratefully Microsoft has given me the chance to work with leaders who worth numerous views and who see my potential. I’m proud to be part of Xbox’s evolution from being a console-centric enterprise to a player-centric enterprise which has allowed us to deliver the enjoyment and neighborhood of gaming to many extra gamers and communities all over the world exterior of the normal console markets. I’m additionally pleased with that little woman, exploring the nice and cozy shore in Cuba, who dared to dream large goals.

I’m honored to have fun Hispanic Heritage Month with Xbox. For me, this time is about celebrating our wealthy tradition as Hispanic and Latino folks in America, whose id has modified and expanded to incorporate not solely our nations of origin, however the identities of different Latin American cultures and American tradition as we’re woven collectively in a tapestry. It’s about elevating consciousness and recognizing the constructive affect our neighborhood has made to the event and success of this nation. It’s about empowering content material creators to encourage genuine illustration by together with Hispanic contributors of their groups and getting suggestions from the neighborhood early within the course of. Lastly, it’s an incredible alternative to indicate the world how proud we’re to be a part of this wonderful neighborhood.

Here are a number of ways in which Team Xbox might be supporting Hispanic and Latino communities and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month:

GIVE

Gaming and Impact with Microsoft Rewards

Microsoft Rewards members within the United States can present their assist for Hispanic communities with Xbox by incomes and donating rewards factors. The organizations under might be featured on console:

• Hispanic Heritage Foundation – HHF’s mission focuses on schooling, workforce, id, and social affect by the lens of management and tradition.
• Latinx in Gaming – connects Latinos throughout the gaming trade, promotes cultural appreciation and illustration in video games/game-related content material, and supplies a platform for the Hispanic neighborhood to raise one another and themselves.
• CARE – works across the globe to save lots of lives, defeat poverty, and obtain social justice in 100 nations together with Latin America and the Caribbean.

Xbox players can earn Microsoft Rewards factors in varied methods, corresponding to enjoying or buying video games after downloading the Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox. Earn factors and redeem them for actual rewards. Join us at this time and give with Xbox. 

DISCOVER

Xbox Ambassadors Feature Stories about Hispanic Representation in Gaming

For Hispanic Heritage Month, the Xbox Ambassadors crew requested Hispanic and Latino Ambassadors in regards to the significance of seeing themselves represented in video games and the way it impacts their very own expertise as members of the gaming neighborhood.​​

Here are their tales.

Albert X (He/Him) 
Puerto Rican 

Undoubtedly, Hispanic characters have made a mark in my gaming trajectory. I’ll always remember Dominic Santiago and Kait Diaz from the Gears franchise. Most not too long ago it gave me nice delight to see Mexico featured in the newest Forza Horizon 5. Additionally, I actually loved the Far Cry 6 soundtrack the place many artists from Puerto Rico are featured and the lead character even sings alongside to the songs whereas working autos.

I based Xbox Live Puerto Rico in 2010. 12 years later we’re nonetheless going sturdy with an incredible crew of Xbox Ambassadors directors giving our area people nice data, occasion protection, and help when wanted. Our major purpose proper now could be to get Puerto Rico included within the Xbox Rewards Program so our neighborhood members can take pleasure in their factors and perks.

Storytelling Series with Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory Students and Local Influencers

The US Xbox Marketing crew is partnering with college students from the Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory in Los Angeles to create a sequence of movies showcasing and celebrating Hispanic and Latino artwork, meals, style, neighborhood, and esports. The aspiring BHAC college students will take part within the manufacturing and storytelling of native creatives together with Chef Wes Avila, President of the Gamers of Color Club, Nyah Serrano, artist/muralist, Downtown Daniel, and style/graphic designer, Francisco Reyes, Jr (aka Never Made) and can launch in early October.

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Explore Games Curated by Hispanic and Latino Communities at Microsoft

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Games present a singular type of storytelling and it’s highly effective to see and have fun the contributions, achievements, and experiences that the Hispanic and Latino communities deliver to gaming. Now, greater than ever, members of the Hispanic and Latino communities within the tech trade are in a position to categorical their very own private tales by video games. We will spotlight the voices that deliver a wealthy and vibrant historical past to life by genuine storytelling and impressed creativity.​​​

​For Hispanic Heritage Month, we wish to spotlight Hispanic and Latino creators, lead characters, and video games impressed by the tradition and places of the Hispanic and Latino communities all over the world. This assortment is accessible on Xbox, Windows, Mobile, and the Cloud year-round as a part of our ongoing work to create extra inclusive gaming ecosystems and elevate content material that resonates with communities whereas rising consciousness of their distinctive views and artistry.

Just a few highlights from the total Game Pass assortment on Xbox and the total Game Pass assortment on Windows embrace:

Moonglow Bay (Available with Xbox Game Pass) – Moonglow Bay is fantastically artwork directed by Lu Nascimento, the co-founder of indie studio Bunnyhug Games, who identifies as a queer Brazilian. This cutesy recreation permits you to tackle the position of a fisher and unravel a heartfelt story in a LGBTQIA+ pleasant city. ​

Grim Fandango Remastered (Available with Xbox Game Pass) – Inspired by the Mexican custom of Día de los Muertos and Aztec folklore, this story facilities round protagonist Manny Calavera’s adventures within the Land of the Dead. This journey recreation additionally options voice expertise and dialogue enter from Latino actors, Tony Plana and Maria Canals-Barrera.​​

Spacelines from the Far Out (Available with Xbox Game Pass) – Spacelines from the Far Out is a artistic co-op recreation about managing airways in house. This recreation was developed by Coffeenauts, an up-and-coming recreation design studio in Brazil pushed by a ardour for creating fascinating video games and a love of caffeine.​​

Dandy Ace (Available with Xbox Game Pass) – From Brazilian developer Mad Mimic, comes the story of a flamboyant magician named Dandy Ace in a fast-paced roguelike journey. Dandy Ace makes use of his magical playing cards to combat and loot his approach out of imprisonment inside a cursed mirror. ​​

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier (Available with Xbox Game Pass and Rated M) – Face the apocalypse as Javier “Javi” García, a former baseball participant on a mission to seek out his Cuban-American household. Decide how the story ought to play out on this narrative journey as Javi groups up with Clementine in an try to survive lengthy sufficient to rescue their respective households.​​

View this assortment on the Microsoft Store on Xbox and the Microsoft Store on Windows within the United States. Visitors can discover this assortment at any time by looking inside the Stores for “Hispanic,” “Latino,” and associated phrases.

New Gamerpics, Profile Theme, and Avatar Items

In partnership with Hispanic and Latino communities at Xbox, we’re introducing a brand new gamerpic, profile themes, and avatar gadgets! The gamerpic and profile theme might be obtainable on console and the Xbox PC app. Get your avatar gadgets right here.

PLAY

LatinExplorers: A Hispanic Heritage Journey

Minecraft Education partnered with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation on a brand new Minecraft studying expertise to encourage and equip college students to grow to be changemakers. LatinExplorers: A Hispanic Heritage Journey will construct actionable management and social emotional expertise with steerage by impactful real-life Hispanic leaders by three highly effective narratives about local weather, care, creativity, and neighborhood. Young learners discover how one can join private passions with careers and workforce alternatives sooner or later digital financial system. This content material is accessible now in 29 languages in Minecraft: Education Edition and Bedrock by way of the Minecraft Marketplace.

Create Celebratory Photos and Liveries in Forza Horizon 5

Do you take pleasure in snapping in-game photographs? Do you want creating distinctive livery designs on your digital automotive assortment? The Forza crew invitations you to share your creations that remember the setting and tradition of the Horizon Festival in Mexico, honoring the real-world Mexican landmarks, nature, buildings, and artwork that may be explored in-game. These weekly photograph and livery contests have particular sub-themes to encourage your creations:

Sept. 9 – Nature

Sept. 16 – Architecture

Sept. 23 – Art & Textiles

Sept. 30 – Horizon Stories

We’ll characteristic our favourite neighborhood creations on the official Forza Horizon accounts, and award in-game gadgets to the winners of every weekly contest in addition to to any and all members who submit eligible creations! Here’s extra data on how one can take part.

TUNE IN

Xbox Plays Celebrates Hispanic Communities 

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Xbox Plays might be dedicating a lot of our livestreaming content material in September and October to Hispanic communities, that includes streamers/content material creators! Follow us on the Xbox Twitch Channel and don’t miss any of the motion!