Latino Heritage Month at Elgin Community College
At Elgin Community College, Latino Heritage Month is more than a celebration. Held from Monday, Sept. 13 through Wednesday, Oct. 13, the event recognizes contributions made by Latinos while creating a respectful dialogue about important issues in the Latino community.
"We hope participants will gain an understanding of the impact Latinos have in this community beyond Cinco de Mayo," says Gabe Lara, the college's student organizations and multicultural programs coordinator. In addition to food, music and dance, the month's events tackle challenging topics such as Latino immigration into the United States, Latino cultural stereotypes and the rise of AIDS in the Latino community.
The month begins with the Latino Heritage Month Kickoff Breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 17 in the Fox Valley University and Business Center Dining Room. This event invites the community to join the college in launching the celebration with motivational speaker Carlos Ojeda Jr.
The Philadelphia resident draws from his childhood during his presentations to high schools, colleges and professional organizations. Born to Puerto Rican parents, Ojeda overcome a life of poverty and doubt from his teachers to become the first in his family to graduate from college with honors. Today, Ojeda speaks on his own and as part of CoolSpeak LLD, through which he and other speakers motivate and inspire students and professionals.
Tickets to the breakfast are $15 for adults and $10 for students. For information about the event, call Gabe Lara at (847) 214-7425.
Other events during Latino Heritage Month follow. For information about Latino Heritage Month, contact the Student Life Office at (847) 214-7370.
• In "My Country, Mi Familia," learn what happens to families of different cultures when their loved ones go away to serve their country from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Sept. 21 in the Advanced Technology Center Auditorium
• In "Latino Diaries," spoken word artist Gabriela Garcia Medina mixes stories, poetry and emotion to convey messages of hope, revolution, identity and love through rhythmic incantations from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22 in the Advanced Technology Center Auditorium.
• In "Immigrant Footprints: A Battle for the Dream," gain a better understanding of the infinite cycle of immigration into the United States from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, in the Instruction Center Lounge.
• In "Dying to Get In," learn why people take the risk of crossing the border illegally to gain the American dream in this discussion from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Sept. 28, in the Advanced Technology Center Auditorium.
• In "Spitfires, Latin Lovers and Gangbangers: The Latino Image in Film from Stereotype to Reality," learn more about how Latinos are stereotyped in cinema from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, in the Advanced Technology Center Auditorium.
• Based on the popular television show, be entertained by the talent displayed by ECC students and others in fourth annual "ECC's Got Talent" at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8 in the Advanced Technology Center Auditorium. Cost is $5.
• In "Bowling for Books," enjoy an evening of bowling for a good cause at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11 at Liberty Lanes, 115 Meadowdale Drive, Carpentersville. Books will be donated to Centro de Informacion. Cost is $1 game fee and a donation of two children's or teen books.
• In "AIDS En El Barrio," learn more about how this disease impacts the Latino community from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Oct. 13, at Advanced Technology Center Auditorium.