ECC kicks off Latinx Heritage Month
Elgin Community College hosts a monthlong series of programs and activities for Latinx Heritage Month, which kicked off Friday with a Mexican independence celebration, breakfast, and leadership summit.
Denice Frohman, an award-winning poet, writer, educator, performer and speaker gave the keynote address to a crowd of 182 attendees during the kickoff breakfast. Among other honors, she is the 2013 Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion and she performed at The White House in 2016.
Latinx Heritage Month recognizes the contributions made by Latinos and aims to create awareness and open a dialogue about important issues within the community. ECC's student population is 42 percent Hispanic.
"The main focus is embracing the next generation of leaders, which might be students who are experiencing those immigration troubles right now or students who are up-and-coming leaders in our society today," said Gaea Atta, ECC Student Life coordinator.
Some of the upcoming events include:
• Fandango, 12 to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Building B, Jobe Lounge. An interactive performance featuring authentic instruments and dance blending indigenous cultures, such as African and Spanish influenced rhythms, movement and melodies of Mexico.
• Just Like Us: "What Makes Us American?," 12:30 to 2 p.m. Sept. 27, Building G, Spartan Auditorium. Students, faculty, staff members and families share stories of immigration and what it means to be American based on a play to be performed by ECC theater students in November.
• Villalobos Brothers, 12 to 1 p.m. Oct. 5, Building B, Jobe Lounge. A leading contemporary Mexican music ensemble will perform original compositions and arrangements of Mexican folk music blended with jazz and classical music.
• Indigenous Peoples Day, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Oct. 9, Building B, Jobe Lounge, explores the history of indigenous peoples and cultures.
• "My Truth. My Story. My Talent," 12 to 2 p.m. Oct. 11, Building G, Spartan Auditorium. ECC's future leaders share personal stories.
• DREAMers Advocacy in Action, 9 to 11 a.m. Oct. 13, Building G, Spartan Auditorium. Students share what it means to be a DREAMer and how to advocate for undocumented students who are part of the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
"We have a couple of students who are undocumented who wanted to share their stories," said Rodrigo Lopez, director of high school partnerships and transitions and a member of the planning committee. "It is our opportunity to be able to bring awareness to their stories."
The events are free and open to the public and will be held at the college campus, 1700 Spartan Drive. For information, call (847) 214-7392.