This year, the Associated Students recognized and celebrated Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month by honoring the culture and contributions of those who come–and came from– from Mexico, the Caribbean, Spain, and Central and South America. From September 15th to October 15th, we celebrated with music, delicious food, important conversations, and more!
On October 1st, we launched a brand-new podcast called “Cards on the Table” that gives students a platform to share their voices on topics related to diversity and culture. This podcast episode served as an open conversation and as an opportunity for folks from the Hispanic/Latinx community to share their personal experiences and discuss important topics. We gathered students from different areas of the campus community (like the Cross-Cultural Leadership Center, Community Action Volunteers in Education, STAR Center, etc.) to join in the conversation on topics including social issues affecting their community, representation of their community, and what Hispanic/ Latinx Heritage Month means to them.
Listen to the full podcast episode of “Cards on the Table: Hispanic Heritage Month Edition” on our YouTube channel.
In honor of Hispanic/ Latinx Heritage Month, the Associated Students also hosted ¡Fuerte! an event full of storytelling, spoken-word poetry, and art. ¡Fuerte¡ closed out the last day of the HHM celebration with an evening of shared culture and experiences–from the food to inspiring guest speakers– the community came together to celebrate their Latinx roots. Some of our very own Chico State faculty and staff shared their successes and struggles, along with students, and a live banda, Nostico Norteño, capping off the night with some dancing!
Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month is a time to pay tribute to the generations of Hispanic/Latinx Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our communities. Here within the Associated Students, we value diversity and a sense of inclusion for all. We prioritize the voices of those impacted by systemic oppression in creating an equitable and inclusive organizational culture in both policy and practice in our programmatic, educational, and employment opportunities. Not just as an idea to embrace, but as a community to form, valuing the respect, richness, and understanding of what a diverse community can bring. We will continue to highlight the voices of all students of our community. We hope you had a Happy Hispanic/ Latinx Heritage Month! 🎉
