ECC to celebrate Latino Heritage Month
Elgin Community College begins its celebration of Latino Heritage Month with a kick-off breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, in the Fox Valley University and Business Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.
Keynote speaker Juan Andrade, president of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, will discuss "An Era of Community Purpose."
Andrade is a recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second highest civilian award in the United States. Under his leadership, the institute has trained more than 200,000 present and future leaders, registered more than two million new voters and published 425 studies on Hispanic demographics since 1982.
Andrade also has worked and participated in the democratization of Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Paraguay, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and Haiti. He has been recognized three times as one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in America.
Tickets to the breakfast are $15 for adults and $10 for students. For details about the event, call Elena Gardea at (847) 214-7698.
Other events during Latino Heritage Month follow. All events are open to the public.
For more information, call the Student Life Office at (847) 214-7370.
Latino Film Festival: The 2009 film "Sin Nombre" follows a teenager who joins a family of Honduran immigrants making the dangerous journey across Mexico to the United States from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, in the Advanced Technology Center Auditorium. It is free.
Elote Sale: Savor corn on the cob with a Mexican twist from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, in the Student Resource Center hallway.
Sabor Latino: Spend the lunch hour at ECC and experience the cuisine and music of Peru, Mexico and Columbia, respectively, Wednesdays, Sept 16, 23 and 30, in the ECC cafeteria.
Latino Film Festival: The 2006 film "El Cantante" features real-life husband and wife Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez chronicling the life of salsa singer Héctor Lavoe from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, in the Advanced Technology Center Auditorium. It is free.
Latino Film Festival: The 2004 film "Motorcycle Diaries" is a memoir depicting the early years of Ernesto "Che" Guevara from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, in the Advanced Technology Center Auditorium. It is free.
Read-In Chain: The seventh annual ECC Latino Read-In Chain celebrates the rich Latino literacy tradition. The public is welcome to come read the works of their favorite Latino writers from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Sept. 29, in the ECC Library. It is free.
ECC's Got Talent Show: Based on the popular television show, ECC students and others demonstrate their talent to win a cash prize Friday, Oct. 2, in the Advanced Technology Center Auditorium. Cost is $5.
Presentation: Sponsored by OLAS, "Talking About My Generation" focuses on the issues surrounding different generations of Latinos living in the U.S. from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 5, in the Advanced Technology Center Auditorium. It is free.
Keynote speaker: Sponsored by OLAS, keynote speaker Guadalupe G. Lara, a licensed master social worker, will give a presentation on "Embracing the Uncomfortable Issues: Skills Building for Managing Today's Challenges in the Workplace and in the Community" from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, in the auditorium. It is free.
Child Health Day: Sponsored by OLAS, this event celebrates Child Health Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, in the hallway in front of Student Resource Center, Room SRC 171 (Student Life Office). It is free.
Latino Comedy Show: Sponsored by OLAS, comedians compete to win a cash prize from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, in the Advanced Technology Center auditorium. Cost is $5.
Latino Film Festival: The 2006 Spanish film "Volver" mixes death and a deep family secret from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, in the Advanced Technology Center auditorium. It is free.