The University of North Georgia is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a variety of events aimed at honoring the culture, history and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. The month-long celebration, held from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, provides an opportunity for students, faculty and the public to engage in a series of educational, artistic and cultural experiences.
Hispanic Heritage Month began as a weeklong celebration in 1968, introduced by California Congressman George E. Brown during a time when the civil rights movement was raising awareness about the importance of recognizing America’s multicultural roots. The terms Hispanic, Latino and the more recent Latinx refer to individuals of Spanish-speaking origin, regardless of race and encompass people from diverse nations such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba and other parts of Latin America.
Festivities kicked off on Sept. 16 with tabling events on the Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses. These initial events were designed to raise awareness and spread the word about the series of activities planned throughout the month, which include dance lessons, art exhibitions and community service opportunities. The events aim to promote cultural understanding and appreciation for the diverse Hispanic and Latino populations at UNG and beyond.
“We hoped for people to find out more about our offices, this [tabling event] was more a promotional thing.” – Kyle Murphy, MSA Associate Director
Art lovers can visit the “Roots” Art Exhibition, curated by the Multicultural Student Affairs office and the Department of Visual Arts. The exhibit will be on display from Oct. 1 – Nov. 19 on the Dahlonega Campus in the Library Technology Center. A reception will be held on Oct. 8 from 4 – 6 p.m.
On Oct. 3, the Latin Fever Dance, organized by the Latino-American Student Organization and MSA, will take place from 6 – 9 p.m. in the Hoag ABC Rooms on the Dahlonega campus. This highly anticipated event will feature a live DJ, free food and plenty of dancing, making it a fun and engaging way for students to connect with Latino culture.
Other key events include the Hispanic Heritage Month Festival on Oct. 9 from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in Cumming and HHM guest speaker event featuring author Eliecer Trillos on Oct. 15 via Zoom at 12:30 p.m.
HHM is an important time for the UNG community to reflect on the rich cultural diversity that Hispanic and Latino individuals bring to the university and to American society at large. All events are open to the public and students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in the celebration of inclusion, heritage and cultural appreciation.
