Hispanic Heritage Month provides diverse lineup of events

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NAU will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, with a host of activities to promote its “Many Peoples, One Community” theme, including presentations, music, food, art and more than 20 films.

Other highlights include a neighborhood historical walk through Flagstaff’s Southside neighborhood and a presentation about border issues by Jose “Pepe” Villarino, who worked with Cesar Chavez.

“This month will be full of different activities for our students,” said Leilani Carreño, a graduate assistant for the Office of Student Life who helped organize the events. “It’s truly a learning experience for everybody and a great chance to understand the Hispanic, Chicano and Latino cultures and people.”

NAU professors also will share their cultural knowledge.

Mark Montoya, an ethnic studies professor, will discuss the roots of Chicano, Latino and Hispanic cultures and their impact on modern media and music at noon Monday, Sept. 29, in the University Union’s Havasupai room B.

Children’s writer Malin Alegria will join Monica Brown, an associate professor of English and author of cultural books for children, during a creative reading at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, in room 135 of the Liberal Arts building.

“It’s very exciting to have these scholars on our campus and the ability to meet them and attend their presentations,” Carreño said

Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off Sept. 15 on the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries-Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico’s anniversary for declaring its independence is on Sept. 16 and Chile’s is on Sept. 18.

The Hispanic Heritage Month film series, featuring 22 films, will be shown throughout the month on university channels 37, 38 and 42.

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