Arts & Culture

Discovering Intersectionality and Celebrating Hope with Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month

Wednesday, September 8, 2021, By Gabrielle Lake

people walking on Einhorn Family Walk holding flags

[Please note, this image was taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and does not reflect current public health guidelines.]

The campus community is invited to the annual celebration of Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month (LHHM), celebrated nationally between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. Hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) in close partnership with the LGBTQ Resource Center and alongside campus partners, celebrations include performances, networking, sporting events and more.

“As a part of the national campaign, this year’s theme for Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month is ‘Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope,’” says Breana Nieves Vergara, Office of Multicultural Affairs coordinator of mentoring programs and LHHM co-chair. “Alongside our cross-campus partners, we hope to showcase the diversity among Latinx Americans, their many contributions to the United States, in addition to celebrating the resilience, heritage and richness of our community at Syracuse University.”

Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month 2021
This month provides an opportunity to learn about the history, culture, and contributions of Americans whose ancestry can be traced to over 20 Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, including Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. With a variety of events hosted through Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, the campus community is invited to explore the complete event list on the OMA Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month Event webpage.

“LHHM is important because it allows us to take time to better understand the complexities and intersectionality of Latinx culture. Being president of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations [NALFO], I try to be authentic regarding my upbringing and culture, while prioritizing the well-being of my community here at Syracuse University,” says Rolando Cabral ’22 NALFO president and LHHM committee member. “Everyone’s experience is different but, that’s why taking time to understand each other, allows us to better understand ourselves even more and how we fit into our own culture.”

Highlighted LLHM events include the following.

“We are honored to have poets Ariana Brown and Alan Pelaez Lopez as our joint Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month and LGBTQ+ History Month Potash keynote performance as a collaboration among the Intercultural Collective,” says Jorge A. Castillo, co-chair of LHHM and director of the LGBTQ Resource Center. “Brown and Pelaez Lopez’s powerful work exemplify the rich cultural production and heritage of the Latinx community at the intersections of Blackness, indigeneity and queerness.”

For more information or to request accommodations, please contact Breana Nieves Vergara by calling 315.443.0228 or emailing bknieves@syr.edu.