The Hispanic Heritage Council hosts annual events to promote academic diversity and raise community awareness of Hispanic culture.
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month 2020, two main events were held, which were free and open to the entire campus community:
On October 7, 2020, the Council and the Center for Multicultural Student Leadership and Engagement (MCSLE) hosted a Lunch and Learn via Zoom with Hilario Molina for his discussion, “La Tempestad: How COVID-19 Exposed the Government's Indifference Toward South Texas.” The Rio Grande Valley had been the epicenter of COVID-19 in Texas, which is an area with 80 percent of its population being of Mexican descent. This presentation explored the history of this impoverished area, and the role of the “essential worker” in an area challenged by high rates of health issues and limited health resources. - A panel discussion on “What it Means to be Hispanic/Latinx at IUP” took place on October 12, 2020, via Zoom. The panelists were comprised of both IUP faculty and students.
Spring 2021 events included a Latin dance workshop on March 4 and a virtual presentation on March 11, “Unsung America: Print Culture and 500 Years of Hispanic History in the United States.” In this session, Kenya C. Dworkin, professor of Hispanic Studies and Translation at Carnegie Mellon University, presented documentary evidence in the form of print culture to acknowledge our country's complex history and celebrate our ethnic and linguistic richness.
In addition to the group's programming, monthly meetings are held during both the fall and spring semesters. The Council works closely with the student organization, LaSO, and events are supported by the Social Equity and Title IX Office. For further information about the Council, please contact hispanicheritage-council@iup.edu.