Virtual Latinx Heritage Month celebrates local college collaboration and color
Join College of Lake County for a virtual celebration of Latinx Heritage Month.
Observed Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 in honor of an abundance of Latin American independence days, it is a celebration of history, culture and community.
"Latinx Heritage Month gives a voice to part of our community that doesn't normally see themselves in higher education," said Dean of Student Life Gabriel Lara.
With a strong background in multicultural and diversity affairs in higher education, Lara recently joined the college in July. A Latino himself, he's happy to be working at a college with a range of student diversity.
"It's a pleasure working with students who look like the community they represent," said Lara.
As a Hispanic Serving Institution, 34.6 percent of CLC's student body identifies as Latinx. Beyond support services, Éxito, programs the college provides to ensure student success, this month is a significant way to honor their contributions to our vibrant community.
Some events include learning how the melding of Afro and Latin cultures creates a different experience, strolling through a virtual tour of the National Museum of Mexican Art and talking about the ways COVID-19 has affected Latinx communities in Lake County. All of the programs will be offered via Zoom. For a complete calendar of events and sign-up information, visit www.clcillinois.edu/events/latinx-heritage.
Don't miss the collaborative panel between CLC, Harper, Elgin, McHenry and Waubonsee community colleges titled "iYa es el Tiempo! Students Coming Together to Create Change" at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25.
Spoken-word artist and activist Denise Frohman will provide an artistic interpretation of activism, and two Elgin City Council members, Tish Powell and Baldemar Lopez, will join her in speaking about their roles in making a change in the community.
A "Get Out and Vote" program will be offered via Zoom from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 and 2 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7. It will explore how to exercise your right to vote, how to register to vote and voting options during a pandemic.
On Friday, Sept. 18, from 1 to 2 p.m., learn the difference between the terms Latinx, Hispanic and Latino.
On Tuesday, Sept. 22 from 3 to 4 p.m., Carlos Andrés Gómez will draw from his eclectic expertise as a solo performer, trained facilitator, public speaker, and educator. His work is informed by best practices in diversity education and utilizes interactive exchange, facilitated dialogue, and storytelling. Those critical tools, along with improv, spoken word poetry, and humor, are used to create a program unlike any other.
On Thursday, Sept. 24 from 4 to 5 p.m., join a LGBTQ+ Latinx student panel discussion as students from CLC share their experiences being LGBTQ+ Latinx.
At 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, a panel will share their experience of being Afro-Latinos.
On Friday, Oct. 2 from noon to 1 p.m., learn how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the Latinx community disproportionally. This session focuses on the impact and some initiatives to help reduce the number of infections in Lake County.
Join the DREAMers Panel College of Lake County students sharing their stories at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9.
On Wednesday, Oct. 14, take a virtual guided visit of this year's Día de los Muertos exhibition at the National Museum of Mexican Art from noon to 1 p.m. This live gallery presentation highlights artwork and ofrendas from the exhibition and provides a platform for students and Lake County residents to ask questions and interact with their tour guide. The duration of the presentation is approximately 45 minutes, including time for questions and comments from the viewer. This Virtual tour will be presented via Zoom and CLC will moderate questions and comments from the students before presenting them to the tour guide.
On Friday, Oct. 16, join a Latinx Heritage Month book discussion from 4 to 5 p.m. with Laura Rendón, professor emerita at the University of Texas-San Antonio.
These events are sponsored by Multicultural Student Center, Fearless Dreamers Alliance, Latino Alliance, Diversity Council and Latinx Outreach and Success Committee.
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