Montana State University’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion will host a series of events in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 annually. During this period, various South and Central American nations celebrate their independence days, including Chile, Costa Rica and El Salvador.
The monthlong series is called “¡Celebramos Juntos!” which translates to “Celebrate Together.” Ariel Donohue, MSU’s senior diversity and inclusion officer, said students, faculty, staff and community partners put together the series of events, which were designed to celebrate Hispanic and Latinx history and culture, strengthen the Hispanic and Latinx community in Gallatin County and raise awareness around issues facing Hispanic and Latinx communities.
“We are incredibly fortunate to be hosting Isabel Allende to officially kick off Hispanic Heritage Month at MSU,” Donohue, said. “Through this event with Allende and several campus and community partners, we will offer many opportunities for the MSU community to learn about and celebrate Hispanic and Latinx cultures, histories and legacies.”
The “¡Celebramos Juntos!” events are:
Wednesday, Sept. 18.
Sack Lunch Seminar with Mayra del Carmen, Alumni Legacy Lounge, noon. Del Carmen is a professor in the MSU Department of Psychology who researches how experiences of mistreatment at work relate to physical and mental health – specifically among Latinx populations in the U.S. Del Carmen will share insights about the Latinx population in the Gallatin Valley and plans for future research.
Monday, Sept. 30.
Abriendo Puertas (Opening Doors): Hispanic Heritage Month with Isabel Allende, SUB Ballrooms, 7 p.m. The President’s Crossing Boundaries Speaker Series features a lecture by world-renowned author Isabel Allende, followed by a Q&A session. Tickets are not required, and this event is open to the public.
Monday, October 7
Bilingual Game Night, 7:15 to 8:30 pm. Join English Para Todos and the MSU Spanish Club for a bilingual game night. English learner students will lead participants in traditional games from Central and Latin America, creating an engaging and interactive language exchange. All ages and language levels are welcome. Registration can be found at forms.gle/fQabieS4owin5Dhp8.
Wednesday, Oct. 16
Fiesta de Sabores, SUB Ballroom B, 4- 6 p.m. Join Fuerza Latinx and the First-Generation Students Association for a night of cultural recognition to mark the end of Hispanic Heritage Month. The event will feature a student panel, discussions about the cultural significance of food and tasting of authentic dishes that represent various Hispanic nations. This event is free and open to the public.
Sept. 12-14, 19-21 and 26-28
Hispanic Heritage Month Film Screenings, Procrastinator Theatre in the Strand Union Building. Join ASMSU and the Procrastinator Theatre in celebrating Hispanic and Latinx cultures, experiences and history. Films and dates include “Coco” Sept. 12-14, “Frida” Sept. 19-21 and “A Million Miles Away” Sept. 26-28. For more information visit montana.edu/asmsu/programs/films. •
