Submitted by: Angela Middleton, Licensing Specialist
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is not just a holiday to me; it’s a day for service. While Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. rose to fame as an instrumental leader during the Civil Rights Movement, he dedicated his life to improving the welfare of ALL people. Dr. King became an activist to make sure that everyone, no matter their skin color, would be treated equally with dignity and respect. This day should be an important observance for all. In honor of Dr. King and his tireless efforts to improve communities across the nation, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service …
Submitted by: Gilda Machare, Assoc. Director of Advertising
I was born in Lima, Peru and, while I’ve lived in the United States for more than half of my life, the traditions I grew up with are still very much with me every day. My family and I try to continue them as much as we can and where we can. When I say family, I don’t mean just parents and brothers, but also my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and first and second cousins; the traditions are just one of the things that keep us all together even when we are apart. My Peruvian history is a combination of the …
Submitted by: Alice Koffah, Senior Bankruptcy Manager of the East
On June 19, 1865 two and a half years after the official Emancipation Proclamation was read, the enslaved population of Galveston, Texas was finally free. This is known as Juneteenth. For me, Juneteenth signifies Freedom, the day of Jubilee! It is a day to reflect on our nation’s history, and a day to remember and acknowledge the lag in justice for Black lives. As a woman of West African and Jamaican descent, born and raised in Queens, New York, I admittedly did not grow up celebrating Juneteenth. I learned about Juneteenth after attending a festival held at our local cultural …
Submitted by: Myeshia McConnell, Corporate Controller
For me, Juneteenth signifies African American freedom. This day commemorates the abolishment of slavery for my ancestors and recognizes the end to the brutality of being enslaved. I celebrate this day just as the Fourth of July is celebrated. As part of the celebration, I educate my children and family on the importance of the holiday. Celebrating diversity is important at the TMX Finance® Family of Companies because it can help eliminate unconscious biases. In general, a diverse workplace is more likely to understand an employee’s needs and come up with ideas to fulfill them. It also increases morale and instills a …
Submitted by: Giovanta Logan, General Manager
Growing up in school, I remember I had a pretty good knowledge of, and fascination with, history. I remember learning about the Boston Tea Party in 1773, the Civil War from 1861-1865, the Roaring 20s followed by The Great Depression in 1929, trench warfare during World War I, and so many other events throughout history. I also remember as a child always celebrating the 4th of July at my aunt’s house in Monroe, GA. It was my favorite holiday at the time because my aunt would always buy the kids a blow-up pool to swim in. Growing up, I learned …
Submitted by: Jose De Leon, District Director of Operations
In 2014, I went into a local sandwich shop in San Antonio, TX. If you asked me today, I would tell you I never thought my craving for a sandwich would change my entire future. After paying for my sandwich, I headed to my car and a sign caught my eye. It read “$2,000, $3,000, $5,000.” At the time, I needed $2,500 to pay off some tickets in order to renew my driver’s license, and the job I was applying for required me to have a valid one; I was stuck with no options. I had gone to my bank …
Submitted by: Kilynn Davis, Field Ops Training Manager
When you begin a career journey, you aim to find a place that is going to be where you want to retire from. A career is separate from a job. A career is somewhere you can invest in the company and they will invest in you. Before I began my journey with TitleMax® I was a department manager at a local grocery store. I felt as if I had met my growth potential in my current role and wanted to expand into something I am more passionate about. I decided I wanted to work in the finance industry because I …
Submitted by: Alheli Zuniga, General Manager
I love El Día de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings’ Day) because it is the last tamalada, the word we use for big parties that consist of making tamales, of the year. This has been a tradition in my family as far back as I remember. Growing up, my family celebrated el Día de los Reyes Magos by gathering at the house of one of the tías. As we got older, my sister and I hosted the Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings’ Bread) celebration. On this day, we buy a huge loaf of bread, in the shape of an oval …
Submitted by: Amit Acharya, Lead ETL Developer, & Vijetha Perumandla, Lead BI Developer
Diwali is a time of grand celebration and great excitement as it is the largest festival celebrated across India. This auspicious festival celebrates “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.” We feel Diwali is our Indian New Year. The festival date is determined by the Hindu calendar, so it changes every year and ranges anywhere from mid-October to November. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on November 4th. Based on Hindu mythology, Diwali commemorates the return of Rama, Sita, and Lakshman, three exiled deities from the city of Ayodhya, after their triumph over evil. To …
Submitted by: Marcela Dyer, General Manager
Celebrating culture at the TMX Finance® Family of Companies, and in general, is important because it gives us the opportunity to learn from other people, other countries, and other cultures. For me, Mexican culture is rich, colorful, and vibrant. My Mexican history includes influences from ancient civilizations such as the Aztecs and Mayans. My history is even influenced by European colonization; my great-grandfather was from Spain and my grandma used to tell me stories about how he came to Mexico. To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I plan to talk about my culture with my co-workers and bring a dish to …