Students celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month on campus
Many on-campus organizations and clubs are collaborating to host events that celebrate Hispanic and Latinx culture and students during Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated nationally from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, is an opportunity to honor and recognize the history, culture and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans. Students at CSB+SJU are finding their own ways to celebrate the holiday. Events began Sept. 16 with the Festivale! hosted by Students Activities Leadership Development (SALD). The festival brought students of all backgrounds together for music, food, games and more.
The holiday has also been celebrated so far with a Bilingual Spanish Mass, Bonita Fest, a Latinx Summit for Social Entrepreneurs and a guest lecture from Carlos Garcia Velasco, lead organizer for the Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha.The mix of events is not only a source of entertainment but also provides opportunities to learn, build connections and embrace creativity.
Los Mayordomos de Dios (LMD), a student group promoting Latinx and Hispanic culture and faith, played a major role in planning the month’s events. Stacey Delgado, a leader for Los Mayordomos de Dios, said that connection and representation was at the forefront of their minds when planning events. Though students of all backgrounds are encouraged to get involved with events during this month and beyond, it is especially meaningful for Latinx and Hispanic students to have a space to meet and spend time together.
“Our goal was to create a safe and welcoming space for students to join our community,” Delgado said via email. “[Latinx and Hispanic students] need representation on campus, where they are the minority, so they can be reminded that although their ethnicity/nationality does not make up the majority of the student population on campus, they still matter.”
Josefa Zarate Dolores, a leader for Los Mayordomos de Dios, spoke with excitement about the success of the events as well as upcoming events during the second half of the holiday. Hispanic Heritage Bridge Night, a partner event between LMD and the Interfaith Leadership team, is an opportunity for students to share their culture and faith and share how important each of these are in shaping their identities. The event is scheduled for Oct. 5.
“Events like these [are] what make students have a safe space to talk and not feel left out on their college experience,” Dolores said via email.
LMD also worked in collaboration with other student groups, including SALD, the Institute for Women’s Leadership (IWL) and Exploring Latin American Culture (ELAC). This collaboration allows events to encompass a broad range of experiences and interests and to attract more people. In addition to Hispanic Heritage Bridge Night, upcoming events include Dia de los Muertos ofrenda picture frame event, a Minneapolis mural tour and bilingual Spanish mass at CSB on Oct. 16 to conclude the festivities.
The 10-event lineup is a marked difference from celebrations in past years. The increased awareness and cultural representation is meaningful for first-year students and upperclassmen alike. Delgado recalls the culture shock of coming to CSB and the feeling of homesickness she had as a first-year. Events such as those held during Hispanic Heritage Month helped her understand that she is not alone.The impact of these events reaches beyond the four years students spend on campus.
“We make the statement and change in our smaller version of the world here on campus and we keep these memories when we leave,” Delgado said.“When we go out there into the world and be involved, we won’t forget who we are and that no matter where we are, our culture is worthy and important to celebrate. This is who we are, and we should never be ashamed of it.”
