Diversity in Our Unity
Latinx Heritage Month at Georgia State
Latinx Heritage Month, also known as National Hispanic Heritage Month, is nationally celebrated each year from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The observance in the United States was born in 1968 when Congress authorized the president to issue an annual proclamation designating National Hispanic Heritage Week. It was expanded into a monthlong celebration two decades later.
Why September 15 to October 15?
Unlike other heritage months at Georgia State, Latinx Heritage Month begins in the middle of September. There's a reason behind that timing.
Nationally, Hispanic Heritage Month always starts on September 15 - a historically significant day marking the anniversary of the independence of five Latin American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua). This time period is also a nod to those from Mexico and Chile, which celebrate their independence on September 16 and September 18, respectively.*
About Heritage Months
Heritage Months celebrate the customs, values, and traditions of different cultures, examining the issues and struggles of different communities as well as affirming their contributions to society. Heritage months are important in providing intentional space for teaching, learning and reflection. Each month, we celebrate the identities and histories of members of Georgia State’s global communities through vibrant performances, lectures, and activities that celebrate our rich cultural diversity and help us understand our shared history.
Event Highlights this Month
Creating Opportunities and Building Stronger Community Ties: Supporting Latinx Heritage Across Georgia State
Thursday, Sept. 22
1:30 p.m.
25 Park Place, Dean's Meeting Center (Room 2608), College of Arts & Sciences
Cosponsored by the Latina/o/x, Chicana/o/x, Caribbean, Hispanic and Indigenous (LACCHI) Faculty Affinity Group; Latinx Student Services & Outreach Office (LASSO); and Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc.
This panel will explore the Latinx Heritage among students, faculty, and staff. This event aims to share research-based practices tied to their recruitment and retention and how to promote awareness and a sense of belonging. We will also talk about how to create opportunities for the Latinx community.
Featured participants include:
- Regent Jose Perez, University System of Georgia
- John Augusto, Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives, College of Arts & Sciences
- Jennifer Ventura, President Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc.
Register below.
Queer Destress Fest: Art Therapy
Tuesday, Sept. 27
3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Student Center East, Room 206
Join the Multicultural Center, Latinx Student Services & Outreach, in collaboration with the Counseling Center, for Queer Destress Fest, a monthly series that focuses on factors that may contribute to stress, anxiety and other issues within LGBTQIQA and varying gender communities. This event will focus on therapy through art! Students will have the opportunity to paint, sketch or draw. Light refreshments will be served. Tools and resources are provided to students that help them navigate their educational journeys.
Orgullo Latinx
Thursday, Sept. 29
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Student Center East Ballroom
Join Spotlight and LASSO as we celebrate Latinx Heritage Month! We will have music, food, and many activities! More information, including a link to the Panther Involvement Network is forthcoming.
Vamos a Bailar
Thursday, Oct. 6
6 to 9 p.m.
Venue TBD
Join LASSO, Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc., where students will learn how to dance to different types of music from Latinx cultures! A link to the Panther Involvement Network is forthcoming.
Examining Latinidad at the Crossroads of Race, Culture and Identity with Dr. Michael Benitez
Tuesday, Oct. 25
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
25 Park Place, Room 223
As part of Latinx Heritage Month at Georgia State University Sept. 15-Oct. 15, LACCHI and Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. will host an insightful presentation and discussion with Dr. Michael Benitez, a nationally acclaimed scholar in diversity, equity and inclusion - discussing the complexity of experiences and identities within Hispanic/Latina/o/x communities.
Dr. Benitez is Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion and Associate Professor for Multicultural Education at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Share Your Event
Does your department or unit have an event to share for this month? Please select the link below to fill out our information submission form.
Additional Latinx Heritage Month Resources
LASSO
Latinx Student Services and Outreach (LASSO) provides a space for students of all backgrounds to gather throughout the school day and immerse themselves in Latinx culture and a familia in which students support one another through their academic journeys and beyond.
Cultures, Communities & Inclusion
Cultures, Communities, and Inclusion celebrates the U in GSU! CCI provides a variety programs, initiatives, and workshops that educate, fosters community-building, enriches the overall campus experience for the campus community, and prepare students for the world that awaits them post-graduation.
Multicultural Center
The Multicultural Center supports Georgia State University’s mission of educating students to participate in a global economy with individuals different from themselves. To assist students in successfully engaging in this global process, the Multicultural Center provides opportunities for intentional, meaningful programming and dialogue to assist students to learn more about themselves and others.
Latinx Student Organizations
Get involved! LASSO has a helpful page listing Latinx student organizations you may find of interest.
LACCHI Faculty Affinity Group
The mission of the Latina/o/x, Chicana/o/x, Caribbean, Hispanic and Indigenous (LACCHI) affinity group is to provide a space for solidarity and cross disciplinary collaboration for faculty and staff who identify as LACCHI.
Center for Latin American and Latino/a Studies
The Center for Latin American and Latino/a Studies is an interdisciplinary teaching, research, and community service program for the Latin American and Latino/a communities in Georgia. We offer students extensive knowledge of Latin America and the Caribbean and their corresponding communities within the United States through academic study, personalized training, and research abroad.
International Initiatives
International Initiatives leads at Georgia State by creating a campus culture that builds interdisciplinary synergies and expands global opportunities where faculty, staff, students, and our Atlanta-area colleagues can collaborate, innovate, and form engaged partnerships with far-reaching impact.
World Languages & Cultures
The Department of World Languages and Cultures serves a threefold purpose: to encourage an appreciation of humanistic values through the study of world literatures and cultures, to teach world languages as a means of communication, and to prepare students for academic careers and opportunities available in the field of international business.
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