Partners Celebrates Hispanic Latinx Heritage Month

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.

Read below for some great ways to celebrate Hispanic/Latinx Heritage:

Read

Florida's Orange County and California's Los Angeles County libraries offer a curated reading list on their websites. Categories include thriller-fiction, essays, biographies and memoirs, poetry, youth fictional short stories, novels,  and more, all about Hispanic/Latinx people BY Hispanic/Latinx people.

Art & Culture

In Orange County, Florida, they are Calling All Artists for the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month Art Exhibit. The exhibit “…celebrates the richness and diversity of Hispanic culture through visual art. By showcasing local talent, this exhibition fosters cultural understanding and appreciation while providing a platform for visual artists to gain exposure and recognition for their creative endeavors…Artists of all levels, from emerging talents to established professionals, are encouraged to submit their original artwork inspired by the Hispanic heritage and culture.” according to the website.

The Smithsonian Institution is in the planning process for a National Museum of the American Latino! While the facility will be located in Washington D.C., the Museum’s online presence is already established and can provide you an immediate virtual experience.

Cook/Eat

The Public Broadcasting System offers tasty recipes to try during Hispanic Heritage Month. Geared to kids and their adults, the recipes come from PBS favorite kids shows like Alma’s Way and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.

Latinos and Hispanics in Dietetics and Nutrition offers a full range of recipes using typical Hispanic ingredients and techniques that are healthy and nutritious as well as tasty. Soups, salads, casseroles, tacos, enchiladas, and more; try your hand at making one of America’s most popular cuisines this month.

Your local libraries can offer cookbooks and books about food and cuisine as well.

Watch

Stay tuned to your Disney streaming service(s) for a full slate of Hispanic and Latinx representation!

With shows like The Owl House and its lead character, Dominican American teenager Luz, to older live-action favorites like Wizards of Waverly Place and Selena Gomez in the starring role of Alex Russo, Disney’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is evident. Additionally, box office hit movies like Coco and Encanto are fun for the whole family; why not plan a popcorn-and-watch party with friends and family?

If a full feature-length film is more than you’re ready for now, take a look at PBS’s Films Celebrating Latino Heritage. This is a small collection of short films (3.5 to 10 minutes long) by and about Latinos.

Listen

National Public Radio celebrates the month and our Hispanic community with stories, podcasts, and music-focused features. Visit their Hispanic Heritage Month hub to learn more.

“StoryCorps is committed to the idea that everyone has an important story to tell and that everyone’s story matters. Our mission: to help us believe in each other by illuminating the humanity and possibility in us all — one story at a time. Since our founding in 2003, we’ve helped more than 640,000 people across the country have meaningful conversations about their lives. These recordings are collected in the U.S. Library of Congress and in our online archive which is now the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered.” Says the StoryCorps website. You can celebrate Hispanic/LatinX Heritage Month with StoryCorps as Latinx voices tell their own tales. You can also participate by recording your own conversations about Hispanic Heritage and uploading them.

Last year, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra put together a playlist on their website to represent “…Latin American popular songs, African rhythms, Arabic melodies and other rich cultural elements always deeply present in the Hispanic music universe.” The playlist includes Hispanic artists both instrumental and vocal; why not pull it up for your next commute.

Events

Please, always check ahead before you go and ensure the events you are planning to attend are still scheduled and meet your expectations and needs.

Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland offer special events during the month to celebrate.

In Orlando, Florida, the previously mentioned art exhibition runs from September 8 to November 13. Additionally, the City of Orlando’s Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration will be held in late September.  Hispanic Heritage Network of Orange County is an official voice of Orange County, Florida; you can find more information about upcoming events there.

Local libraries are another great resource for ways to learn about and celebrate Hispanic cultures; for example, the Orange County CA. public libraries offer the “Discover and Go” program to reserve free or low-cost passes to participating organizations, including Mission San Juan Capistrano.

In nearby Santa Ana, CA, the city is sponsoring Fiestas Patrias. “Celebrate our local Hispanic and Latino communities on September 16-17, 2023 at Santa Ana’s very own Fiestas Patrias! Taking place on Flower Street between Civic Center Drive and Santa Ana Boulevard, this event celebrates the independence of various Latin American countries by commemorating the very people whom reside within our city. The event is family-friendly and open to all residents and non-residents. Festivities will include:

• Street fair and vendors
• Live music entertainment
• Food and a beer garden
• Carnival rides
• Cultural exhibitors and more

Check out the Baja Splash Cultural Festival at the Aquarium of the Pacific September 23 and 24. “The Aquarium will host its twenty-second annual Baja Splash Cultural Festival in celebration of cultures from Mexico, Central and South America, and beyond. The event features traditional dance, live music, educational programming in English and Spanish, and booths from participating organizations.” (Admission required)

And the Latino Theater Company in Los Angeles offers a full season of live theater experiences. “The Latino Theater Company's (LTC) mission at The Los Angeles Theatre Center (the LATC), is to provide a world-class arts center for those pursuing artistic excellence; a laboratory where both tradition and innovation are honored and honed; a place where the convergence of people, cultures, and ideas contribute to the future.” says their website.

Resources

National Hispanic Heritage Month (Library of Congress)

Hispanic Heritage Month (National Archives)

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Top 8 Reasons Why and How We Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (Smithsonian Learning Lab)

Key facts about U.S. Latinos for National Hispanic Heritage Month (Pew Research Center)

Hispanic Heritage Month (National Park Service)