Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with events hosted by Multicultural Services and Programs and the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Institute, an area studies unit of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. The month-long, nationally recognized celebration is observed from Sept. 15-Oct. 15 and honors the many contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the U.S. while highlighting the diverse heritage and cultures of Latin America.
“This year’s theme, ‘A Legacy of History, a Present of Action and a Future of Success’ invites us to reflect and actively engage in co-constructing an experience enriched by the cultural influences of Central and South America, the Caribbean and Spain,” said Zoe M. Johnson, director of Multicultural Services and Programs, a department within UGA Student Affairs. “The Office of Multicultural Services and Programs is proud to mark Hispanic Heritage Month and we hope that the entire campus community will join us in doing so.”
The celebration includes a kick-off Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Tate Student Center Plaza. The event will feature UGA Hispanic and Latino organizations. Hispanic Heritage Month 2014 posters will be available at LACSI while they last, and all activities may be found on the LACSI website at www.lacsi.uga.edu.
The poster and events are co-sponsored by Multicultural Services and Programs, LACSI, the Office of the President, the Instituto de México, the department of Romance languages, the Hispanic Student Association, the LGBT Resource Center, the Center for Latino Achievement and Success in Education and the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, among others.
Unless otherwise noted all events are free and open to the public:
Sept. 16 – Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-Off
Latino and Hispanic based organizations at UGA host music and a celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Tate Student Center Plaza.
Sept. 18 – Students For Latin@ Empowerment: “I Am ____!”
Paint a canvas from 7-8 p.m. in the Miller Learning Center. For more information contact rangel19@uga.edu.
Sept. 24 – Keynote Speaker: Sonia Nazario
The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author will discuss her book “Enrique’s Journey: Bringing the Immigration Debate from Political to Personal,” the story of a Honduran boy’s struggle to find his mother in the U.S. The event will be at 7 p.m. in Room 271 of the Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Libraries. For more information contact mspinfo@uga.edu.
Sept. 30 – “Ask Me About…”
Students for Latin@ Empowerment will give away Mexican candy and have information about their organization available from noon-2 p.m. on the Tate Student Center Plaza. For more information, contact rangel19@uga.edu.
Oct. 1 – Hispanic Scholarship Fund Celebration
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar Chapter celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting some of the many HSF alumni who are making their mark on history. Refreshments will be provided. The event will be at 6 p.m. in Room 350 of the Miller Learning Center. For more information, contact epodvin@hsf.net.
Oct. 4 – Fiesta
The Athens-Clarke County Library hosts stories, music, a Don Quixote skit, crafts and more from 2-4 p.m.
Oct. 7 and 9 – Film Screening: “Chocó” by Jhonny Hendrix Hinestoza
The film tells the story of a young Colombian woman who raises her children alone by working in a gold mine. A Q&A with the director will follow. Admission is $9.75 or $7.50 for students. Oct. 7 screening will be at 8 p.m. at Ciné. The Oct. 9 screening will be at 6 p.m. at the Georgia Museum of Art. For more information, contact ximenagp@uga.edu.
Oct. 8 – Film Screening: “Cesar Chavez”
The film looks at the American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association. The event will be held at 7 p.m. in the Tate Student Center Theatre. For more information, contact mspinfo@uga.edu.
Oct. 11 – Alces Open House
The Athens Latino Center for Education and Services showcases the various services offered to the Hispanic population in North Georgia. There will be food, music and door prizes from 1:30-4 p.m. at ALCES, which is located at 445 Huntington Road.
Oct. 11 – “Pueblos Originarios: Un Festival Artesanal”
Arts and crafts inspired by the indigenous peoples of the Americas as well as food and music from all over Latin America will be showcased from 1-5 p.m. at the Pinewoods Library and Learning Center, 465 U.S. Highway 29 North. For more information, call 706-613-3708.
Oct. 12 – Book Fiesta With Lucha Libre
Share stories and make a luchador mask from 3-4 p.m. at the Athens-Clarke County Library.
Oct. 17-Nov. 12 – “Negritud In Latin American Art”
From members of the Atlanta art collective Contrapunto, the works in this exhibit exemplify the integral influence of African culture on the art of Latin America and the Caribbean. A panel discussion with the curators and artists will be held on Oct. 29 from 6-7 p.m. in Gallery 101 of the Lamar Dodd School of Art. For more information, contact sbermude@uga.edu.
Oct. 18 – Noche Latina
The UGA Hispanic Student Association presents Latin American dancing, music, and other artistic performances from 6-9:30 p.m. in the Grand Hall of the Tate Student Center. Tickets are $10, $8 for UGA students. Dinner from Latin America is included. Tickets available at the Tate Student Center Cashier Window. Contact jenniouz@uga.edu for more information.
Oct. 22 – Concha-Holmes Reception
A reception with ecological anthropologist and filmmaker Amanda Cocha-Holmes, who will be on campus as a Willson Center Short-Term Visiting Fellow, will be held at 5 p.m. the LACSI Building, 290 South Hull St. For more information, contact, alanasha@uga.edu.
Oct. 30 – Dia de los Muertos Celebration
Celebrate Day of the Dead with pan dulce and hot cocoa for breakfast. The event will be from 9-11 a.m. in the Tate Student Center Plaza. For more information, contact rangel19@uga.edu.
Oct. 30 – Casa De Amistad Paisajes
A silent art auction will celebrate 10 years of Casa De Amistad’s service to the Latino community in Athens. All proceeds will support Casa de Amistad services. The event is from 6-9 p.m. at the Taylor Grady House, 635 Prince Ave. Contact athensamistad@gmail.com for more information.
Nov. 1 – Dia De Los Muertos/Cuentos
The Athens-Clarke County Library will have stories, crafts and carnival-like activities. The event is free and open to all ages.
Multicultural Programs and Services and the LGBT Resource Center are departments within UGA Student Affairs.
The Division of Student Affairs comprises 19 campus departments that enhance the learning environment for students at the University of Georgia by stimulating the learning process, integrating the in-class and out-of-class experiences, promoting an environment conducive to growth and discovery and facilitating intellectual, spiritual, social, occupational, physical, cultural and emotional development. For more information, see http://studentaffairs.uga.edu.