Building Legacy: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Through Design

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the culture, resilience, and creativity that continue to shape our communities. For me, this recognition is deeply personal.

When I came to the United States, I carried with me the lessons of my Colombian roots — resilience, dignity, and the belief that design can create belonging. Those values still guide my work and my journey.

At Moya Design Partners (MOYA), I’ve had the privilege of leading projects that honor heritage while opening doors to the future. One of the most meaningful was the site selection studies for the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino. When I told my mother we had won this pursuit, my eyes filled with tears. To be part of such a legacy project — as a Latina and a woman business owner — was profoundly moving. My hope is that future generations walk through that museum, see their stories represented, and know that a Latina helped shape it.

That same commitment to representation and equity guides our work across the Washington, D.C. region and in Raleigh — from affordable and multigenerational housing that brings stability and dignity to families, to projects like Sansé & Naja, where Latino culture is celebrated through design, storytelling, and public space. It continues with CentroNía in Maryland, a bilingual, multicultural child-care center supporting working families, and with Audi Field, where thousands of Hispanic fans unite through the world’s most beloved game.