There is so much power in storytelling.
As the Dean of Students for Community Care and Inclusion, as a Latina and someone who was the first in my family to attend college, I have witnessed firsthand the shifts that happen when we can be authors of our own story – of our past and in crafting our future.
When we share our stories with trusted partners and community members, we participate in building trust and in disrupting oppressive narratives. When the stories of marginalized folks join in solidarity, the impact becomes mighty. That is the power of testimonio.
This is highlighted this year by the theme for Latinx Heritage Month, Fire on the Tongue: Storytelling as Resistance. That self-authorship, channeled passion, and empowerment is what I wish for every student at Willamette University.
Willamette University’s Latinx Heritage Month features partnerships and programming from across the schools and campuses. Two student organizations kick off the month with events aimed at connection: Coffee and Pan Dulce with the Latinx Law Student Association Sept. 15 from 7:30-9:30 a.m. in Rick’s Cafe and Cafecito Chat with Alianza from 6-7 p.m. in the Renjen Student Center for Equity and Empowerment, also on Sept. 15.
On Wednesday, Sept. 21, join us for a talk and reading by Portland author Emilly Prado, who will share about her journey and read from her collection of essays, Funeral for Flaca. These events are free and open to the public:
- 12:30 p.m. in the Mediatheque at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, 511 Broadway, Portland
- 5:30 p.m. Ford 122 at the Salem campus, Willamette University
Look out for other events at PNCA and make sure to follow the Hallie Ford Museum of Art on Instagram @hallieford_museum to catch featured work by Latinx artists from the museum’s collection.
Other events celebrating the month:
- Sept. 27 - “Undocumented Artists Have Something to Say” A presentation of contemporary immigrant art activism hosted by the Pro-Immigrant Rights Student Union in collaboration with Dr. Olivia Muñoz, Dean of Students for Community Care and Inclusion, 4:30 PM in the E&E
- Sept. 30 - “Baile Night!” Dance lessons and Latin music dance party hosted by Alianza, 7:00 - 9:00 PM in Montag Den
- Oct. 6 - “Black & Brown Business Networking Night” with Manny Cifuentes-Machado, Career Advisor, Business & Entrepreneurship, 6:00 - 8:00 PM, UC 3rd Floor, Alumni Lounge. (See registration link below)
- Oct. 12 - “Fighting to Be Seen: The Personal and Teacher Identity of White-Passing Biracial (Latinx/White) Teachers” Scholarship lecture by Dr. Emilio Solano, 12:00 PM UC 3rd Floor, Alumni Lounge. Soup lunch provided.
- Oct. 13 - “Rick Silva: Western Fronts” Artist lecture, 6:00 - 7:00 PM, Paulus Lecture Hall (Room 201), Willamette University College of Law. Free and open to the public.
There are also many online events. Check out this virtual series on Latinidad by Skidmore College including such topics as “Decolonizing AfroLatinidad: Black Central Americans in the United States” and “Self-Identity or Racial Classification?: How Afro-Latina Girls Trouble the Myth of Mestizaje.”
Latinx Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15-October 15 to acknowledge the history, culture, and contributions of Americans whose ancestry can be traced to over 20 countries in Latin America, including Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. In the United States, there are approximately 60 million people who have ancestries connected to these countries who reside in the United States, representing approximately 18% of the U.S. population. Many labels are used for this panethnic group: Hispanic, Latina/o, Latine, and Latinx, among others. They represent a wide diversity of races, ethnicities, and experiences.
Since 1968, this commemoration has been recognized by the federal government and celebrated across the United States. The start of the month, September 15th, is significant, as several Latin American countries celebrate their independence from Spain on this day, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile also celebrate their independence during the month on September 16th and 18th respectively. Learn more at https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/
National Hispanic Heritage Month: https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/
WU Latinx Law Student Association: https://willamette.edu/law/resources/student-orgs/llsa/index.html
Author Emilly Prado: https://emillyprado.com/
Register for Black & Brown Networking Night: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScdcz-aDe_rlTMGw_fb0BSqePsTC0bjDOWh--lrufBI9aAKwA/viewform
Artist Rick Silva “Western Fronts”: https://willamette.edu/arts/hfma/exhibitions/library/2022-23/rick-silva.html
Hallie Ford Museum Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hallieford_museum/?hl=en
Virtual series on Latinidad: https://www.skidmore.edu/latin_american/events/index.php