Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

Meet Elizabeth McCray 

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15 to recognize the achievements, contributions, and culture of Hispanic Americans. The month also overlaps with Indigenous People’s Day, which is marked on the second Monday in October to honor Native American people and their cultures.  

For NYCHA employee Elizabeth McCray, this overlap in holidays is a reflection of her DNA, family, and culture. Ms. McCray’s mother moved to the United States from Morelos, Mexico, in 1991 and her father is a Californian from the Hopi tribe. She was born in California and lived there until she moved to New York with her mother in 2005. 

One of the biggest holidays she loves celebrating with her family will be observed later this month and November: El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead), a multi-day Mexican holiday for people to honor and remember their ancestors.  

“When we were in California and if we were praising our ancestors who passed away there, we’d usually go from October 31 to November 2 to put food where they’re buried,” Ms. McCray said. “We bring music, flowers, and games. It’s kind of a way to show them that we still care about them, and for those days we dedicate ourselves to having a better connection with them even though they’re in the afterlife. It’s not just something small – it’s something the whole community does. People bring food and pastries and sing songs to welcome the ancestors, and sometimes make a small bonfire.” 

“In New York, since we’re not where our ancestors were buried, we do an altar table. We put up photos of our dead relatives, we add their favorite foods, flowers, and things they would’ve liked. Every night we light a white candle because that’s how they find their way to whatever we left them.” Ms. McCray’s father’s side of the family does similar celebrations for their ancestors, using sage to cleanse the area. 

Although she mainly celebrates her Mexican heritage, Ms. McCray believes that her upbringing and both cultures have helped make her the woman she is today. She has worked as a Community Investigator in the Office of Safety and Security since 2019, helping to investigate workplace harassment and violence. She also interned at NYCHA in 2017, assisting an investigator while she completed her bachelor’s degree at John Jay College. 

After college, she spent a year giving back by volunteering with the Hispanic Federation, an organization that works to empower and advance the Hispanic community in the areas of education, health, immigration, civic engagement, and more. She used her fluency in Spanish to assist those in need. “I spent a lot of time helping Spanish-speaking New York City residents, translating between attorneys and clients, explaining how to register to vote, and helping with paperwork.” 

It’s not only important to her to celebrate and help fellow Hispanic people, but she believes everyone should celebrate their heritage. “I think it’s very important to embrace where you come from, especially in New York City. This is a state that has a lot of people from all over the world, and we have the opportunity to educate people on our different beliefs and heritages. It’s also a beautiful thing when you meet people from all over the world, learn about their heritage, and see a lot of similarities.”