Colorado State University Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month

Colorado State University will commemorate National Hispanic Heritage Month with a variety of on-campus and communitywide events through September and October.

“National Hispanic Heritage Month is a reminder that we need to acknowledge the contributions of Latinos every day, to celebrate the lives and generations before us,” said Guadalupe Salazar, director of El Centro.

All events are free for students, faculty, staff and community members. Many events are geared for families and children as well.

Activities for the celebration include:

September

Vida Sana – Edgar Dominguez
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 11, Student Services Building Room 133
Fort Collins and campus community members are invited to an open presentation and discussion with Vida Sana. Topics include health inequalities, community engagement and desired outcomes.

Chili Festival and Block Party
Noon-5 p.m. Sept. 14, Museo de las Tres Colonias, 425 10th St. in Fort Collins
The celebration sheds light on the Hispanic culture and celebrations through food, music and contests.

Live in Color: Performance Painting and National Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-Off
4-7 p.m. Sept. 17, Outside Campus Recreation Center
In collaboration with the 2013 Diversity Symposium, this event kicks off National Hispanic Heritage Month with Armando Silva, a performance painter who will create art in an interactive and energetic manner. Light refreshments will be served.

The Origins of Latin American Music
8:30 p.m. Sept. 19, University Center for the Arts
In this one-hour presentation by Raices Latinas musical director Freddy Saavedra and percussionist Leticia Maldonado, attendees will learn about the influence of African, indigenous and Spanish cultures in what is known today as Latin American music.

Latin American Studies: A Colloquium Featuring CSU Researchers
Noon-1 p.m. Sept. 19 and 26 and Oct. 3 and 10, Morgan Library Event Hall on campus
Colorado State University Libraries offers a brown bag series that will highlight eight scholars on campus who are researching topics in Latina(o)/Latin American studies. Two researchers will be featured at each session. Coffee and tea will be provided. This program is free and open to the public.

Learn Bachata and Merengue
1-4 p.m. Sept. 21, Poudre River Public Library in Old Town Fort Collins
Learn to dance Bachata and Merengue during this free dance lesson with local film director Adam Taub.

ACCIÓN Community Impact Leadership Award
6-7 p.m. Sept. 26, Northside Aztlan Community Center, 112 Willow St. in Fort Collins
ACCIÓN, CSU’s Hispanic faculty and staff organization, recognizes local community leaders in Northern Colorado impacting Hispanic communities.

October

Jose Cantillo from "The Walking Dead"
6 p.m. Oct. 2, CSU Durrell Center
Jose Pablo Cantillo, the American actor who portrays Caesar Martinez in AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” will talk about his experience as a Latino actor.

Canceled: Noche Latina
Noche Latina is an event focused on the Latina/o culture such as dance, music, food and familia. This year, the event celebrates the elderly by recognizing local seniors who continue to impact the Fort Collins community. This is a potluck.

Soul Sacrifice: A tribute to Santana
2-3 p.m. Oct. 12, Poudre River Public Library in Old Town Fort Collins
The five-member band covers Santana’s work and features Latin-infused rock classics.

Event sponsors include: El Centro, City of Fort Collins Northside Aztlan Community Center, ASAP, Museo de las Tres Colonias, Office of Vice President for Diversity, CSU Parents Fund, ACCIÓN, Poudre River Public Library District, CSU Libraries, LASSO, Front Range Community College, Lory Student Center, Campus Recreation Center and Multicultural Greek Organizations.

For more information and description of each National Hispanic Heritage Month event, call El Centro at (970) 491-5722.

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