Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight - Luisana Batchelder

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to appreciate and celebrate the colorful cultures, rich histories, and diversity of the American Latino community. As we continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage, we would like to give a special spotlight to our very own, Luisana Batchelder, who recently celebrated becoming a US citizen.

Luisana is our incredible People Experience Generalist and Office Manager and has been with us since Oct 2020. Let’s learn more about Lu’s story. 

When did you move to the US and from where?

I moved to Miami about 8 years ago from Venezuela to start a new life with my family. As many might  know, the political situation was only getting worse in Venezuela and we had no choice but to leave our country.

Can you share with us more about your culture?

More than culture, I can share more about Venezuelan’s resilience - It is amazing to see how no matter what the situation of the country is our people still find ways to keep going. To me, that represents our culture more than a dish or a song.

What advice would you give to someone who recently moved to the US?

My advice would be to find a support group and community as moving to a new country, state or even a new city is a major life event. Finding community was key for me! It took me some time to find a great support system in a new city and a new country but once I did, it made a world of a difference.

Has your background shaped you? Has it had any influence on your accomplishments?

I grew up in a household of hard-working women so I’ve always been inspired by them to be a hard worker. Their perseverance also inspired me to believe I can accomplish anything I set my heart to, no matter how big or small the task is.

What is one of your favorite cultural traditions that your family celebrates?

Noche Buena is my favorite! I have a lot of childhood memories at my grandparent's house in Venezuela, gathering with cousins and close relatives, playing dominoes, and listening to Gaitas. Gaitas is a style of Venezuelan music and dance that originated from Maracaibo city.

How do you celebrate it? What types of foods are cooked?

We celebrate by gathering at mom’s house and we have Hallacas for dinner! Hallaca is a traditional dish from Venezuela that looks like a tamal, but with a different flavor, texture, and ingredients. Its main ingredients are: cornmeal dough or cassava dough, meat (beef, pork, chicken), raisins, capers, and olives!

Name your favorite place to eat authentic Venezuelan food in Miami

I have a couple of favorite spots:

- Doggis for any type of Venezuelan food

- Francisca's for the best rotisserie chicken

- Casimiro's for some Maracucho street food

Who is your favorite Hispanic author/artist?

Carlos Cruz-Diez - is a visual Venezuelan artist known for his kinetic art. One of his art pieces can be found at the Marlins stadium. This art piece is one of my favorites because he has the same one at the Caracas Airport which reminds me of my childhood.

Name a place from your country that you wish people could experience.

Morrocoy National Park - is a protected island and marine preserve on the Caribbean coast of Venezuela. I love this place because of the clear water and all the great memories of visiting the park during family vacations.

What languages are spoken at home?

Since my husband is American, we speak both English and Spanish. We try to speak mostly Spanish at home so my toddler, Oscar, is bilingual since he speaks English at daycare.

What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?

A time to reflect on all the accomplishments of our ancestors and the opportunities still in front of us.

Which haku Value most resonates with you?

Put People First, I love to help others and make sure everyone is happy. As the People Experience Generalist, I make sure people are having a great experience and have everything they need to be their best selves at work. Their home away from home. 

Like Lu, we have many inspiring stories from our employees at haku. Throughout the year, we will spotlight their stories and contributions at haku. Stay tuned!

Want to explore an exciting career at haku? We’re growing our team and always looking for talented and outgoing individuals to add to our incredible haku family. Check out our openings here.