Waubonsee Community College will host a series of engaging events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and National-Hispanic Serving Institutions Week. These events seek to recognize and honor the contributions and profound influence of Latinx culture on both American society and the college as a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). These free events are open to the public and will take place from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
- Loteria (Bingo): Kick off Latinx Heritage Month with a game of Loteria in the Latinx Resource Center (LRC) at the Aurora Downtown Campus on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 11:30 a.m.
- Almuerzo y Aprende (Lunch and Learn): A professional development series about best practices to serve Latinx students in higher education. The hybrid series will be available in-person and via Zoom and is designed to provide faculty, staff, and administrators with essential tools and insights to help Latinx students thrive academically. The event will be held at the LRC at the Aurora Downtown Campus on Friday, Sept. 22, Wednesday, Sept. 27, and Wednesday, Oct. 4 at noon. The featured presenters include Dr. Kristina Garcia, Dean of Communication and Behavioral Sciences at Elgin Community College; Josh Villalobos, Instructional Dean at Mission de Paso Campus at El Paso Community College; and Dr. Francisco Gaytan, President of Student Engagement at North Park University.
- Raices (Roots) “Ojo de Dios” craft: Focused on family and heritage, participants are invited to create their own "Ojos de Dios," based on a craft done by Indigenous Latin-Americans in Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia on Monday, Sept. 25 at 11 a.m. Participants will also be able to sample delicious Latin American food. Additionally, you will have a chance to win an Ancestry DNA Kit to discover (or further explore) your heritage! Can’t make it to Aurora Downtown for this event? Grab-and-go kits will be available at Waubonsee’s four campus locations.
- Community Movie Night: Join us for a free screening of the “Sons of Monarchs” on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. at the Aurora Downtown Campus. This movie screening is provided in collaboration with Waubonsee and the Aurora Film Society. Snacks will be provided. Age 18+ audience recommended.
- Fiesta y Kermes during Downtown Aurora’s First Friday: Join us for an evening of arts and music events, including ceramics, silk-screen printing, and more. The kermes aims to embrace the richness of the Latinx culture as we celebrate Latinx Heritage Month with a program full of vendors, community-based organizations, performers, and live music. This event is on Friday, Oct. 6 from 5 to 9 p.m. and is open to the public!
- Poet Visit: Reading and Discussion with Ada Limón: A reading and discussion with poet/author Limón, the first Latina Poet Laureate of the U.S. She will read from her work and share her culture and heritage with attendees. This reading and discussion will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Waubonsee is proud to be recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the United States Department of Education. The college is dedicated to increasing the institution’s capacity to serve Latinx leaders holistically.
“Being an HSI is an identity that we are delighted to continue to uphold and highlight,” said Jenissa Nino, Latinx Engagement Coordinator. “During Latinx Heritage Month and Hispanic Serving Institution Week, we have so many events that are fun and educational. They will allow students, their families, and the community to explore their culture right here at their local community college.”
To learn more about how Waubonsee is celebrating Latinx Heritage Month and for event details, visit waubonsee.edu/latinxheritagemonth.
