St. Louis Mosaic: Honoring Hispanic Heritage and Building the Future

Every September, Hispanic Heritage Month offers communities across the U.S. the chance to celebrate the traditions, history, and achievements of Latino and Hispanic Americans. For St. Louis, it is a moment to reflect on the growth of the community and the city’s ongoing efforts to welcome new people, ideas, and innovations. For SC, it is also a reminder of the importance of representation in building environments where everyone feels welcome to contribute to the future of supercomputing.

Celebrating a Growing Community

When you think of a mosaic, you may think of small tiles that, on their own, seem simple but together form something vibrant and inspiring.

In 2012, the city of St. Louis made a decision to create a mosaic not of tiles, but of people. The St. Louis Mosaic Project was launched to attract new ideas and businesses to the region, and to spark growth by opening doors for newcomers. For the Latino and Hispanic community, the Mosaic Project has been one of the driving forces behind the region’s rapid growth. In 2024, the St. Louis metropolitan area was ranked 4th in growth amongst the Hispanic community across the 30 largest metropolitan regions, underscoring the essential role Latinos play in fueling St. Louis’s vitality, economy, and culture.

What makes this growth stand out is the deliberate, collaborative approach behind it. The Mosaic Project is professionally managed by the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, World Trade Center St. Louis, and a 32-member steering committee working together to make the region a place where newcomers can thrive.

Four Pillars of the Mosaic Project

Through these efforts, St. Louis has brought communities together and allowed Hispanic and Latino heritage to flourish through celebrations such as the Hispanic Festival, the work of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and initiatives like Move2STL. The vision is clear: to continue building a city where ideas flourish and growth is powered by connection.

The Importance of Representation

For SC25, the work being done in St. Louis is an opportunity not only to continue our outreach but also to highlight the importance of representation. For many people from underrepresented communities, seeing leaders and peers with similar cultural backgrounds helps break stereotypes about who belongs in high performance computing and inspires the next generation to pursue careers in the field.

As Verónica Melesse Vergara, Vice Chair for SC25 Infrastructure, explains:

We have a responsibility to design a conference that considers everyone in our community. From the moment a city is selected to the moment attendees walk through the doors, we want SC25 to be a space where attendees feel seen, supported, and able to contribute.

That spirit is reflected in SC’s outreach and engagement programs. CommUNITY@SC25 is building local connections in St. Louis, while HPC Around the World broadens global perspectives. The HPC Illuminations Pavilion showcases stories of innovation, and our Community Engagement and Support teams ensure that attendees feel welcome and included from start to finish. Much like the St. Louis Mosaic Project, these efforts are about creating a lasting community, one that thrives on connection and shared purpose.

Explore SC25 Programs

Our SCinet work force development programs are about creating a space where everyone feels they belong so they can focus on learning about the technologies we use, and do their best work. St. Louis has developed a culture of welcoming new voices, and I’m proud that SCinet will be able to contribute to that mission. — Nathaniel Mendoza, SC25 SCinet Chair

Looking Ahead

This November, St. Louis will once again welcome the world as it hosts SC25, the largest international conference on high performance computing. Thousands of researchers, innovators, and technologists will gather here, reflecting the city’s long history of connection, resilience, and exchange.

From the Mosaic Project to SC25, St. Louis thrives when it embraces new ideas and collaboration. Hispanic Heritage Month is one more reminder that this strength comes from the communities who have helped shape the city’s story and continue to shape its future.