It’s September, which means it’s time to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month! Last year, UCF was named a Hispanic Serving Institution and hosted several Latin American-inspired events to celebrate Hispanic culture. And this year, UCF will be kicking off Hispanic Serving Institutions Week on September 16 with special guest speaker Dr. Gina Garcia and free refreshments!
The College of Arts and Humanities is also getting in on the fun with several activities that spotlight Hispanic culture. Here are five ways that you can celebrate Latinx Heritage Month with CAH!
1) Learn Quechua for free
Quechua is a language over 4000 years old, with its origins dating back to the Inca Empire in ancient Peru. Today, over 10 million people speak it — and now you can too! Modern Languages and Literatures instructor Norma Ledesma will offer free beginner’s classes in Quechua every Tuesday from 12 pm to 1 pm in Trevor Colbourn Hall. You’ll get to learn vocabulary and expressions related to medicine, food, travel and more. For more information, email Dr. Tyler Fisher at tyler.fisher@ucf.edu.
When: Every Tuesday, 12 pm to 1 pm starting Sept. 10, 2019
Where: TCH 358B
2) Enjoy the work of Latinx artists
To “coalesce” means to come together — something that the countless languages, cultural identities and communities that make up Latin America do endlessly. COALESCE, curated by Erika Hirugami, is a group exhibition of work made by talented Latinx artists. Join us for the opening reception on Thursday, September 26 from 5 to 7 pm — or stop by during gallery hours until November 1.
When: Sept. 26 to Nov. 1, 2019, 10 am to 5 pm
Where: UCF Art Gallery
Shannon Lindsey sat down with curator Erika Hirugami. Read more about the exhibition, Latinx artists and curation here.
3) Hear the voices of Venezuelan refugees
The ongoing tensions in Venezuela have brought the country to an impasse and displaced more than 4 million Venezuelans. In this free panel discussion titled “Venezuelan Voices,” hear from a number who have settled in Central Florida in the hopes of creating a better life.
When: Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, 12 pm to 2 pm
Where: TCH 358B
4) Show off your talent at ¡Sabor Latino!
Are you part of the Hispanic or Latinx community? Are you proud of your heritage? Do you have something you want to showcase? If you answered yes to any of these, then ¡Sabor Latino! is for you!
¡Sabor Latino! is a talent showcase hosted by UCF CAB and LASA. If you sing, dance, play an instrument, write poetry, make films, juggle, do close-up magic or more, sign up here by September 19th! Or you can come cheer on your fellow talented Knights in the Harris Corporation Engineering Center on Thursday, September 26th at 7 pm.
When: Thursday, Sept. 26th, 2019, 7 pm to 10 pm
Where: HEC 125
5) Discover the deeper meaning of Hispanic culture
In his free lecture “Beyond Tacos, Salsa, and Sombreros: Latin America’s Cultural Wealth,” history professor Luis Martínez-Fernández will explore issues including:
• Deeper definitions of culture
• Should we speak of one or many Latin American cultures?
• What do Hispanics/Latinos bring to the table?
• Translating across cultures
Visit the Orange County Regional History Center’s website to learn more.
When: Sunday, Sept. 15, 2 pm to 3:30 pm
Where: Orange County Regional History Center
Bonus: Sing, dance and eat at the annual Nuestras banderas un solo corazón
The Spanish Graduate Association (SaGA) invites you to celebrate the Hispanic Heritage Month with Hispanic music, poetry, and food! If you would like to recite, sing, or dance at our event, please contact us at SaGA@ucf.edu.
When: Thursday, Sept. 26, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Trevor Colbourn Hall 358B