The Office of Multicultural Student Success, in collaboration with the Global Latin Student Union (GLSU) and Alpha Psi Lambda National Inc., is hosting a variety of campus and community events in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month from Sunday, Sept. 15, through Tuesday, Oct. 15.
These events aim to honor Hispanic culture, history, and contributions, engaging the entire University of Toledo and the greater community.
UToledo is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month from Sunday through Oct. 15.
“Hispanic Heritage Month is a way to showcase and educate people about the different Latin American countries. Latin America is rich with diversity and history, and we hope to show that through our events! Our Latin organization, Global Latin Student Union will host many events celebrating HHS with food, history, and fun Latin activities,” said Lisa Moguel, GLSU President.
Another key focus of the celebration is to recognize cultural icons and their influence on the community.
“Hispanic Heritage Month means honoring our culture through history and art,” said Erica Sacoto, Alpha Psi Lambda president. “Selena Quintanilla, the Queen of Tejana Music, was an incredible historical figure who greatly influenced our community and whose memory many still honor to this day through her music.”
The lineup of Hispanic Heritage Month events includes educational programs, cultural activities and opportunities for dialogue beginning with Bailando con APsi on Monday, Sept. 16.
Scheduled from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Thompson Student Union steps at Centennial Mall, Bailando con APsi kicks off the celebration with beginner-level Hispanic dance lessons for all students.
Other events:
• ¡Bienvenidos!, Monday, Sept. 16. Scheduled from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Thompson Student Union Room 2500 (the Office of Multicultural Student Success). Celebrate the start of Hispanic Heritage Month by networking with Latinx students, faculty and staff. Learn about upcoming events and get involved with UToledo’s Latinx student organizations.
• Independence Day: Día de la Independencia, Thursday, Sept. 19. Scheduled from 2 to 7 p.m. at Centennial Mall. Join GLSU in recognizing and celebrating the independence days of various Latin American countries. This event will feature educational displays and cultural information.
• Toledo’s Top Talent: Selena Tribute, Sunday, Sept. 22. Scheduled from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the The Peristyle in the Toledo Museum of Art. Celebrate the life and music of Selena with performances from talented local singers in this Selena Tribute event. Transportation will be provided.
• Cultural Craft Night, Tuesday, Sept. 24. Scheduled from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Thompson Student Union Room 2500 (the Office of Multicultural Student Success). Learn about the cultural significance of mosaics and worry dolls as you create your own crafts in this interactive and creative event.
• Salsa Steps and Piñata Making, Wednesday, Sept. 25. Scheduled from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Thompson Student Union Room 2584. Discover how to make delicious salsa from scratch and create your own DIY piñata in this hands-on event.
• GLSU Soccer Night, Thursday, Sept. 26. Scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center. Join GLSU for a fun night of soccer. This event is open to all students, offering an opportunity to connect through one of the most popular sports in Latin America.
• DuoLingo Night, Wednesday, Oct. 2. Scheduled from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Thompson Student Union Room 2500 (the Office of Multicultural Student Success). Explore different regions of Latin America at various cultural stations. Participants can learn new languages and cultural facts through fun and interactive activities.
• NAMI Greater Toledo 9th Annual Latino Leadership Initiative Forum, Thursday, Oct. 3. Scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the McMaster Center in Toledo Main Library, 325 Michigan St. in downtown Toledo. This forum, hosted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, will focus on mental health and leadership in the Latinx community. It will feature community leaders, mental health professionals and discussions on addressing mental health disparities.
• Family Feud: 100 Latinos Dijeron, Thursday, Oct. 10. Scheduled from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Thompson Student Union Room 2500 (the Office of Multicultural Student Success). Test your knowledge of Hispanic culture with a Family Feud-style game night. Join us for a fun and competitive evening.
Also in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Latin American Studies has a free online library of documentaries and films available through kanopy, and the Office of Multicultural Student Success has links to virtual national exhibitions, events and tours on its Hispanic Heritage Month website.
Carlson Library encourages students to check out books by Latinx authors and explore a different perspective.
For more information on Hispanic Heritage Month’s campus activities, visit the celebration’s Invonet website.
And for more resources on Hispanic Heritage Month, visit the Office of Multicultural Student Success website devoted to History and Heritage Months.
