The Multicultural Center's Latinx Student Services team has worked diligently to collaborate with partners and organize special events all month long to honor and celebrate Latxinx/Hispanic heritage.
Latinx Program Coordinator Maggie Otero shares information about five upcoming events taking place on campus.
"I’m very grateful for the opportunity to help organize these events because they create a sense of community and belonging among our Latinx population while also educating the broader community about the rich heritage and contributions of our culture," Otero said. "And at a personal level, this opportunity brings me a lot of joy because it is a way to celebrate my own roots and connect with my people."
Students, including leadership from Associated Students 推荐杏吧原创 (ASUN) and leadership from The Multicultural Center, contributed to these events and were involved with all aspects of planning, making each event for the students, by the students, though some events are open to the wider community as well.
“Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month means everything to me," one student leader from The Center, Marcos Aviles, Jimenez, said. "It celebrates what it means to be unique and what it means to be human. I think it’s important to have these events to highlight such a large minority community while also creating a safe space for all individuals who identify as Latinx/Hispanic.”
Below, Otero shares details on each event.
Selena Movie Screening:
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the JCSU Theatre
The Multicultural Center will partner with the Joe Crowley Student Union to host a showing of the Selena movie to kick off our Latinx Heritage Month celebrations. We will be offering Pan Dulce and Horchata. This movie tells the story of Selena Quintanilla, one of the biggest Tejano music singers to date, whose legacy has inspired many to embrace and celebrate their Latinx roots. The movie also does a great job at exploring the journey of Selena as a Mexican-American artist navigating her bicultural identity and culture, which I believe is something a lot of Latinxs in the U.S. can relate to.
Latinx Karaoke:
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Multicultural Center
The Center will be hosting a Latinx Karaoke Night, where we hope students will have an opportunity to make new friends and strengthen their sense of belonging and community. We plan on having some snacks like Duros and Venezuelan Empanadas.
Paletas & Paint Picnic:
Tuesday, September 26, 2023 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Peavine Lawn
We’ll be partnering with Res Life and Counseling Services to host a painting picnic with a popsicle bar at the Peavine Lawn, where students will be able to paint azulejos, traditional ceramic tiles with beautiful colorful patterns that hold rich cultural and historical significance across Latin America. While azulejos were brought to Latin America as a result of colonization, the traditional European tile-making techniques and designs eventually began to incorporate indigenous and local elements of Latin America, giving rise to unique variations that are now representative of our Latinx culture. We want to take this opportunity to celebrate the richness and resilience characteristic of our culture, as well as to explore creative ways to engage in self-care (e.g., painting).
Loteria Night:
Thursday October 5, 2023 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Multicultural Center
The Center will partner with the Joe Crowley Student Union and First Gen to host a Mexican bingo night with some incredible traditional street food.
#YHLQMDLG: Breaking the labels of our Latinidad:
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the JCSU Theatre
Lastly, we will work with the Joe Crowley Student Union and ASUN to host a panel where Latinx students and faculty can discuss some of the cultural norms and expectations that they’ve faced in our community and how they’ve challenged these labels in order to be their truest selves. Panelists will include Latinx women in STEM, nonbinary folks, Latinx student leadership, Latinx researchers and more! We are very excited to create a brave space where we can identify and challenge some of the labels that we often face as Latinxs with the goal of fostering inclusivity and authenticity.
Be sure to mark your calendars with those events and students should consider joining to stay tuned about further upcoming events.
