Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month at A-State: A Month of Events, and What It Signals

From 15 September to 14 October, Arkansas State University is marking Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month with events on and off campus.

This year’s theme

“Unidos Somos Más” — together we are more. Dr. Latika Johnson, director of multicultural affairs, described it as a time “to celebrate the richness of Hispanic and Latine cultures, honor their stories and traditions which connect us, and recognize the strength found in community”.

The programme is organised jointly by the Hispanic and Latino Faculty and Staff Association, the student organisation Hermana Y Hermano, the Beta Xi chapter of Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, the Multicultural Center and the Student Activities Board — alongside off-campus partners Always Jonesboro, Jonesboro Unlimited and El Centro Hispano.

What is on

• A kickoff celebration in the Reng Student Union food court.
• Nuestras Raíces (“roots”) in Centennial Hall — food, music and community activities.
• Meet Me at the MC: Unidos, Somos Más at the Multicultural Center.
• And further events across the month, both on campus and in Jonesboro.

Why we are publishing this

A question families ask, often carefully: will my child feel isolated in a state where their own community is small?

This is an indirect answer, and a more honest one than any assurance. How a university treats other minority communities on its campus — with budget, dedicated staff, student organisations and outside partners — is the best available indicator of how a student from anywhere else will be received. A-State has more than 1,200 international students from over 70 countries; the Multicultural Center was not created for one group.

Read more about the Vietnamese community at A-State and student life.

Source: astate.edu