TAKING A SWING AT CRAFTING. UW-Stout students, with Latinos Unidos adviser Vickie Sanchez, center, make piñatas prior to COVID-19. (UW-Stout photo)

Two local university campuses have planned numerous events to mark National Hispanic Heritage Month, which began Sept. 15 and runs through Oct. 15.

Hispanic Heritage Month – also known as Latinx Heritage Month – is a monthlong celebration of the culture and traditions of those who trace their roots to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.

The celebration begins on Sept. 15 because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.

UW-EAU CLAIRE

UWEC kicked off the month with a private event on Sept. 16 at the campus Latinx Cultural Center. Events open to the public include:

• “Latinx & LGBTQ+,” a series of short films that highlight different aspects of the intersectionality between the Latina and the LGBTQ+ community. The films will screen from 4-5:30pm Sept. 22 in Woodland Theater in Davies Center.
• “Loteria,” a night of playing the fun and competitive game of Loteria. Game night will run from 4-6pm Sept. 29 in Room 801 of Hibbard Hall.
• “Blugold Dialogue,” a speaker series that focuses on contemporary equity, diversity and inclusion topics, stories and ideas. Dr. Sunem Beaton-Garcia, president of Chippewa Valley Technical College, will be the speaker. She is the first Latina and first woman president for CVTC. Her presentation will begin at 4pm Oct. 7 in Room 1614 of Centennial Hall.
• “Sabor Latin (Eau)” will be an event featuring food, speakers, awards and performers. The event will run from 5-7pm Oct. 14 in the Dakota Ballroom of Davies Center.
• “A Place to Breathe” will be a virtual panel discussion following the viewing of the documentary. The panelists will include faculty and experts. The documentary will be available for viewing on Oct. 6. The virtual discussion will run from 5-7pm Oct. 21.

More details can be found online here.

UW-STOUT

UW-Stout student organization Latinos Unidos will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of events including speaker La Espiritista, a poet, author, and performer who is a trans, nonbinary, and genderfluid, and of mixed Latinx heritage.

La Espiritista, which means “the spiritualist” in Spanish, will speak from 5 to 6pm on Wednesday, Oct. 6, in ballrooms A and B of the Memorial Student Center. The event is open and free to everyone. They will honor ancestors and lives passed on as well as celebrate and beckon people to explore the complexities of their identities and heritages.

Other events planned by Latinos Unidos include:

• Hispanic Heritage Kahoot and prizes, 6 to 7pm, Tuesday, Sept. 21, Willow and Walnut rooms, MSC.
• Piñata-making, 6 to 7pm, Tuesday, Sept. 28, Willow and Walnut rooms, MSC.
• Piñata painting, 6 to 7pm, Tuesday, Oct. 5, Willow and Walnut rooms, MSC.
• Movie and sugar skull-making, 6 to 7pm, Tuesday, Oct. 12, Willow and Walnut rooms, MSC.
• Loteria and prizes with the Involvement Center, 3pm, Saturday, Oct. 30, Terrace, MSC.

To learn more about individual events, go here.