By Nicarlyle Hanchard / The Jambar
National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from Sept. 15–Oct. 15. The celebration began as a week-long event in 1968 by President Lyndon Johnson. It was later expanded to a month-long event in 1988 under the leadership of President Ronald Reagan.
Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the culture, presence and accolades of Hispanic Americans whose ancestors came from Spanish or other Latin-American countries and cultures.
With today being the Opening Ceremony, Youngstown State University’s Hispanic Heritage Month Planning Committee and the greater Youngstown community are preparing for a month of festivities.
The ceremony is being held at the Youngstown Public Library. The keynote speaker will be Christopher Colon, executive director of Thrive Mahoning Valley and a YSU alumni.
Ana Torres, co-director of the William F. Maag Jr. Library and a member of the YSU Hispanic Heritage Month Planning Committee, spoke about the month’s history in the United States and its significance.
“Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated nationally, in the United States, for over four decades,” Torres said. “It celebrates the contributions and accomplishments of the Latinos and Hispanic community throughout the U.S.”
Torres said the Opening Ceremony will feature 22 flags of Spanish-speaking countries.
The planning committee aims to partner with multiple on-campus departments and organizations in the Youngstown community to create a month of events that can be enjoyed by all.
“What we do in this committee, we try to collaborate with various departments on campus and also with the community to put together a calendar of events so that students can take advantage of it,” Torres said.
Culture and heritage are preserved through celebrations like those being held this month. Jacqueline Arroyo, a senior journalism student, said Hispanic Heritage Month is a time for her to be proud.
“It’s a way for us to embrace our culture. It’s us representing ourselves the best way we can. It’s a mix of us being out there, happy and proud,” Arroyo said.
She also said her mother helps in keeping the traditions alive.
“My mother keeps our heritage around. In our house, we have the Virgin Mary. We have an ofrenda — it’s something we use to keep our dead ones alive. She likes to sage the house,” Arroyo said.
Along with the opening ceremony, several other events will take place throughout September on campus and in the area. For all activities, students are encouraged to attend.
Noche de Cine, or “movie night,” will be at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 on the lawn between Maag Library and Ward Beecher Hall. If there is rain, it will be moved to room 406A in Maag Library. The film being shown is “Coco.”
¡Hola Fest! Youngstown, a parade and festival, will be held from 12-9 p.m. Sept. 21 at Wean Park and is free to attend.
Torres said YSU’s main event for the month is the Hispanic Heritage Celebration, which will be held from 12–3 p.m. Oct. 12.
“I would love for the students to join us. There will be performers, music, food and vendors. Anyone can attend,” Torres said.
There will be brochures available in Maag Library or at ysu.edu/hispanicheritage with the full list of events.
