Latinx Heritage Month has begun, which is why the recently opened Carolina Latinx Center is hosting a variety of events around campus this fall to highlight Latinx culture.
With its ribbon-cutting ceremony to take place on Oct. 4, the center has hit the ground running in pursuing its mission to support UNC Latinx communities and educate the campus.
The month-long celebration is sponsored by the UNC Latina/o Studies Program, Institute for the Study of the Americas, LatinxEd, Department of Romance Studies, Mi Pueblo, Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc., Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc., Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., among other organizations. The month runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, so it’s not too late for students to participate.
Upcoming events include lectures from experts on various Latinx issues, as well as parties and festivals to celebrate Latinx achievements and culture.
Sept. 26: Lenoir Dining Hall will host the month's next event, the Latinx Heritage Month Dinner, this Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. They will serve enchiladas, empanadas, churros, pupusas, tres leches and other dishes.
Sept. 30 to Oct. 3: Students can learn about and become involved with some of the major issues affecting Latinx communities at lectures held around campus. These will be on Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. in the FedEx Global Education Center; Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. in the Student Union, Genome Sciences Building or Global Center Conference Space; and Oct. 3 at 6 p.m., location to be determined. Topics discussed will include Caribbean soundscapes and anti-Blackness, immigration and deportation rights and how to respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
Oct. 2: There will be a keynote speech by Herrison Chicas, award-winning poet and motivational speaker. Chicas has given TedTalks and was a semi-finalist at Brave New Voices, a global youth poetry contest. There will also be a film screening of "Giants Don’t Exist," a film about the Guatemalan Civil War.
Oct. 5: The Center will host Carnaval 2019 on Oct. 5 at noon in the Bell Tower Amphitheater. The festival will explore Latin America with food, arts and crafts, music and games.
