ECC celebrates Hispanic heritage with activities

Elgin Community College's Latino Heritage Month is currently under way. Events scheduled during this annual celebration of Hispanic culture and beliefs begins include:

• Wednesdays through Oct. 16: "Sabor Latino" features a meal and musical entertainment from a different Latin country each Wednesday in the ECC cafeteria. The price of the meal varies.

• Fridays, Sept. 21, Oct. 12 and Oct. 19: The Latino Film Festival will feature the showing of three films -- "Quinceanera," "The Walkout" and "Pan's Labyrinth" -- at 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center Auditorium. Admission is free.

• Sept. 25: The presentation "Skilled Careers" focuses on the advantages of entering into a skilled/technical career from a Hispanic perspective. Speaking at the event, held at 6:30 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center Auditorium, are Jose Vital, a coordinator and instructor of refrigeration/air conditioning technology at Harper College; and Joaquin Camacho, a facility manager for Jones Lang LaSalle in Lincolnshire. Admission is free.

• Sept. 26: "Aztec Stories" features a presentation by artist Michael Heralda that involves a mix of ancient poetry, narratives, oral tradition stories and ballads. Heralda also brings and uses many handheld, indigenous-styled instruments, and encourages the audience to participate through music and song. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Visual and Performing Arts Center's Blizzard Theater. Admission is free.

• Sept. 27: ECC's library will host a "Latino Literature Read-In," a reading celebration of Hispanic art and literature where students, staff and the community read the works of prominent Hispanic authors. The event is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Renner Learning Resources Center. Admission is free.

• Sept. 28-29: "Salsation! HisPanic Attack!" features a medley of the best comedic sketches from Chicago's first all-Hispanic improvisational and sketch comedy ensemble. Salsation! offers a sharp-witted and hilarious Hispanic-style twist on images of Hispanic people in the media, education and coping with life's irritations, traditions and celebrations.

The ensemble will perform on both days at 8 p.m. in the Visual and Performing Arts Center's SecondSpace Theatre. Admission is $17 performance and an additional $17 for an optional dinner.

• Oct. 5: Experience the intensity and excitement of stepping, a venue for expressing identity through a complex performance that involves synchronized percussive movement, singing, speaking, chanting and drama, during the "Latino Step Show." Hispanic fraternities and sororities will perform during this competition, held at 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center Auditorium. Admission is free.

• Oct. 26: Los Utrera is a family of musicians and dancers who take their inspiration from the fiestas of Mexico and is one of the best Mexican Jarocho groups in today's traditional music scene. Led by 83-year-old Don Esteban Utrera, the group offers a vibrant update on the music of several generations, including an uplifting West African influence. Performing with a zapateado dancer, this performance promises to be a visual as well as musical feast. The event will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Visual and Performing Arts Center's Blizzard Theatre. Admission is $15.

Latino Heritage Month is sponsored by ECC in collaboration with the Office of Student Life, Reflejos, ECC's Multicultural and Global Initiatives Committee, ECC's Organization of Latin American Students, Columbia College of Missouri and Roosevelt University of Chicago.

For information about Latino Heritage Month and other events and news at ECC, visit www.elgin.edu.