Syracuse University will mark the start of the annual Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month (LHHM) celebration on Thursday, Sept. 15, during an opening ceremony in Schine Student Center atrium at 4 p.m. The ceremony, which will include remarks, student performances and the premiere of a video on Latino student life at Syracuse created by Diana Garcia-Varo ’23, begins the robust schedule of events throughout the month, ranging from the fourth annual Torneo de Fútbol, to the annual Fiesta Latina celebration, to the new Café con Leche discussion series.
“In my video, including the voices of Latinx students at Syracuse is one of the most authentic ways to highlight the richness, beauty and diversity in Latinx culture. I hope that one day, we look back to the efforts made by students of color and extend it to our greater community outside of Syracuse University. I want to see our efforts, achievements and stories become global and impact the world as we continue to advocate for justice, inclusion, diversity and equity. Change starts with us,” says Garcia-Varo, who is also public relations chair of Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Incorporated.
Throughout the events scheduled during the month, the campus community is encouraged to learn more about and celebrate the history, culture and contributions of Americans whose heritage can be traced to over 20 Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, including Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. The month is celebrated Sept. 15-Oct. 15, as it coincides with Independence Day for several Latin American Nations (Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua).
“The many programs and events that encompass LHHM have been curated with our many campus partners as a way to invite the Orange community, where over 10% of the undergraduate student population is of Latino or Hispanic heritage, to learn about and join us in celebrating the complexity and beautiful diversity of what it means to be Latinx,” says Jorge A. Castillo, director of the LGBTQ Resource Center and LHHM Planning Committee co-chair.
This year’s keynote will once again be hosted in partnership with the LGBTQ Resource Center. The LHHM and Fourth Annual LGBTQ+ History Month Potash Keynote speaker is Paola Ramos, author, Emmy award-winning journalist and advocate for the Latinx community. Ramos is host for VICE and VICE News, contributor for MSNBC and Telemundo News, and author of “Finding Latinx: In Search of the Voices Redefining Latino Identity.” She uses multimedia platforms to uplift the voices of marginalized communities, break down stereotypes and mobilize people towards civic engagement. Her keynote and Q&A are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium, Newhouse III.
“We’re so excited to welcome Paola Ramos to campus this October! We hope that Ramos’ lived experience at the intersection of Latinidad and queerness will resonate with our students, and the greater campus community. Her work with the Latinx community in both journalism and politics, particularly following the 2016 election, really speaks to the diversity of our community,” says Breana Nieves Vergara, program coordinator in Multicultural Affairs and the LHHM Planning Committee co-chair.
With efforts led by the LHHM Planning Committee and Multicultural Affairs, the month’s calendar is supported by several co-sponsors, including Bird Library, La Casita, Office of Cultural Engagement for the Hispanic Community in the College of Arts and Sciences, LGBTQ Resource Center, Puerto Rican Student Association, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and Barnes Center at The Arch.
For more information and full event details, visit the LHHM Calendar.
