Hearst Magazines Highlights Generations of Wisdom with Its Special "From Our Abuelas" Series

Abuelas and abuela-type figures are revered and held in high regard in the Hispanic community for their storytelling, and for educating younger generations about customs and traditions.

"We wanted to focus on abuelas because the voice of older generations, especially those from communities of color, is not always a perspective that gets a lot of representation," shared Andrea Stanley, Project Lead for the initiative, which is called "From Our Abuelas." "[They] often play such a deep and integral role in the lives of those around them. They are the recipe keepers and caregivers and decision makers. Capturing that wisdom feels important, and a bit like getting invited to sit around a fire to listen to some of the smartest people you know."

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"From Our Abuelas" spans 12 Hearst brands, including ELLE DECOR, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Men's Health and Oprah Daily.

"Learn and grow -- that's what grandmothers help us do. And now, it is time that we honor them," said Oprah Winfrey in a launch video on OprahDaily.com. "I am so proud of these stories that I invite you to jump into the celebration of abuelas, dynamic women whose love, whose wisdom, whose acceptance and strength are powering their families, powering their communities, and actually all of us."

When developing the project, Hearst Magazines' Hispanic and Latinx writers and staff members pitched ideas to the team. As a result, the collection features an expansive and diverse set of stories and experiences. "Abuelas are not a monolith, and it was important for us that the points of view represented were as varied and unique as abuelas themselves are," Stanley said.

One story in the collection is about TikTok abuela Ana M. Regalado, aka @SaltyCocina, who boasts over 2.5 million followers and has shared dozens of recipes from traditional Mexican dishes to modernized classics like her pumpkin spice conchas. Another feature focuses on the inspiring origins of Angry Tias and Abuelas, a group of women who made it their mission to help migrants and asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border by providing translations, food, water and as much other support as they could give.

There are also stories about well-known people in the Hispanic and Latinx communities who discuss the unconditional love and support they received from abuelas, who were key to their sense of success -- whether that relates to their coming-out journey or pursuing a dream career.

"We have NASCAR driver Regina Sirvent talking about the power of her grandmother's prayers; actor Benjamin Bratt talking about the ways the matriarchs of his family have shaped him," explained Stanley.

There's also an essay that debunks the stereotypes surrounding Hispanic and Latinx people and their beauty routines, Stanley said. "It is that breadth of voices that allows us to tell a full and complete story and present readers with myriad points of view they can learn from."

Other heartwarming stories include "What Our Abuelas Taught Us About Relationships," featured on WomensHealthMag.com, in which a trio of Hispanic and Latinx women share their most valuable lessons about love. Another story features the founder of Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, who raised five grandchildren all on her own and has a mission to help others who may be in similar situations.

"From Our Abuelas" is the fourth entry in the ongoing "Project Tell Me" series, which first launched in June 2021 with "Lift Every Voice," featuring conversations between young Black journalists and the oldest generation of Black Americans and continued with a celebration of Hispanic and Latinx culture with "The Power of Us."The most recent installment, "Future Rising," honored 50 Black innovators, thought leaders and changemakers.

Four more chapters in the series are launching this year. "With each interaction, enthusiasm grows, and we expand the scope, from podcasts and books to new partnerships," said Brooke Siegel, Senior Vice President Content at Hearst Magazines. "In October, we'll launch a first-of-its-kind collaboration focusing on key ingredients in AAPI [Asian American and Pacific Islanders] cuisine that includes personal essays from renowned chefs, recipes, videos and more."

Another upcoming package, destined for Prevention, is about invisible disabilities. And it actually had an impact on Hearst internally. "[The project] led to increased accessibility training across our edit and tech teams to ensure our design, packaging and UX are inclusive," Siegel said. "That's the goal of 'Project Tell Me' -- to not just highlight more diverse stories but to evolve and improve the creative process."

As for "From Our Abuelas," Stanley said: "I hope readers walk away from this series understanding that we are who we are because of the generations that came before us. We can learn from them, while continuing to grow and evolve together."

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