We are building this city, yet our stories are rarely told. From laying bricks to staffing hospitals, opening restaurants to raising families, Hispanics and Latinos are part of Baltimore’s heartbeat. But it took tragedy to make that visible. When the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed on March 26, 2024, six Hispanic and Latino workers — members of our communities — lost their lives. For a brief moment, the headlines remembered us. But what about every other day?
Even then, support fell short. The Baltimore Community Foundation raised over $16 million through its Maryland Tough, Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund which claims to strengthen “community resilience.” Yet, not a single dollar initially reached the bereaved families in our communities. It wasn’t until public scrutiny demanded accountability that $1.2 million was finally directed to the victims’ families. It shouldn’t take exposure and pressure for those who are building this city with their bare hands to receive the support they deserve.
That invisibility is what the documentary film, “We Are Baltimore,” seeks to address.
This 50-minute bilingual (Spanish and English) film was created to help both Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic/Latino audiences hear stories that have always mattered — even when no one was listening.
Born out of sweat, tears, and a shared sense of purpose, the film features people from all walks of life including healthcare workers, students, artists, chefs, teachers, volunteers, public servants, and entrepreneurs. But what sets the documentary film apart is its multinational and multicultural lens. The terms “Latino” or “Hispanic” can refer to multiple nationalities and ethnicities. “We are Baltimore” isn’t a single-ethnic story, it’s a collective portrait told through more than 10 ethnic backgrounds: Puerto Ricans, Ecuadorans, Guatemalans, Mexicans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Salvadorans, Peruvians, Dominicans, Hondurans, U.S. Americans, and Spaniards.
Language is also a key part of that diversity. This documentary film showcases an array of voices — different accents, dialects, and expressions — reflecting the variety in our diasporic communities. It also rejects the idea of a one-size-fits-all “Hispanic” or “Latino” identity, instead celebrating the richness of our differences as a defining strength.
It includes people born or raised in the U.S. who speak English first; those who struggle with Spanish or English — or both; Afro-Latinos, Indigenous Latinos, Mestizos (mixed individuals), recent arrivals, and lifelong residents; those who live their identity out loud, and those still figuring out where they fit in.
This documentary was made for all of us — regardless of passport, accent, skin tone, hair type, or vocabulary. Because we are not just black and white — we are the full spectrum, rich in rhythm and layered in texture.
What motivated me to work alongside Nuestras Raíces Inc. — “Our Cultural Roots” in English — was one clear truth: our community wasn’t getting the attention it deserved. We’re launching businesses, paving roads, constructing buildings, and contributing to the city’s fabric. Yet in politics and media, we’re often portrayed as criminals, burdens, or outsiders.
That narrative needed to be replaced by one told from the inside.
In 2023, at 18 years old, I left the rural familiarity of my hometown — Huntingtown, Maryland — to pursue International Studies at Towson University. I knew no one in Baltimore. But one afternoon in February 2024, I saw a Facebook post from Nuestras Raíces Inc. — a Highlandtown nonprofit dedicated to educating, promoting, and preserving Latin American and Hispanic cultures. They were looking for artists, so I reached out. One conversation turned into a months-long collaboration. By March 25, 2024, we were filming We Are Baltimore.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Baltimore’s Hispanic and Latino population nearly doubled between 2010 and 2023 — from about 26,000 (4.19%) to over 46,000 people (8.20%). Despite this growth, our communities remain underrepresented and vulnerable to harmful political rhetoric. In 2025, the return of the Trump administration reignited xenophobic narratives and ramped up I.C.E. operations.
In January 2025, the administration revoked the Sensitive Locations Policy, which had protected undocumented immigrants from arrest in places like hospitals and schools. Fear spread. Many avoided essential services for fear of detention or deportation.
“We Are Baltimore” is a response to that climate. It challenges dehumanizing stereotypes and offers a fuller view — one that centers our humanity, variety, and contributions. It’s a rejection of immigrant victimization as a political strategy.
This project was also a personal journey. Though I’m of Dominican and Colombian descent, I was born and raised in Southern Maryland. Before 2024, I knew little about Baltimore. But through this documentary, I found community, friendship, and purpose. I learned to embrace every corner of my identity in a way I never had before.
“We Are Baltimore” premiered on October 10, 2024, at the iconic Senator Theatre. The response was overwhelming. But that night was only the beginning. Nuestras Raíces Inc. continues to push forward — through cultural workshops, art galleries at Casa de la Cultura, and community events like Fiesta Baltimore and Frida Fest. The goal: a Baltimore where Latinos and Hispanics aren’t just recognized — but heard.
We are not just in Baltimore.
We are Baltimore.
To learn more, visit nuestrasraicesinc.org.
To watch the documentary film, “We are Baltimore,” click here.