Rice University will honor Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, with its own inclusive mission and vision: Latine Heritage Month.
“Latine signals a heritage rooted in Latin America that includes Caribbean nations and all gender identities,” said Luziris Pineda Turi, associate vice provost for diversity, equity and inclusion, associate teaching professor of Spanish and co-chair of Latine Heritage Month.
“This year’s motto is ‘Pride, Passion, Progress: Celebrating Latine Heritage Month,’” said co-chair Andrea Herrera, assistant director of marketing and programs for the Rice Student Center. “Through this motto, we celebrate the pride, passion and progress of Latine communities while also acknowledging the ongoing work towards greater recognition, representation and empowerment.”
The Latine Heritage Month planning committee comprised Rice students, staff and faculty gathered monthly since May to read articles about Latine identity, gather information about campus programming and brainstorm ideas on how to bring together Owls who identify as Latine as well as any community member interested in learning about the community.
The Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Multicultural Center will host the kickoff, weekly hangouts and closing event for the Rice community while Multicultural Community Relations is coordinating several public events. For a full list, see below or visit the Latine Heritage month website.
Among the highlights:
Sept. 16: Latine Heritage Month Kick Off, 5-7:30 p.m., Grand Hall, Rice Memorial Center
The celebration kicks off with trio music, information tables from Rice student groups, invited speakers, Afro-Cuban drummers and dancers, a ritmo preview and dinner.
The exhibit is a collection of photos, documents and memorabilia of the Latine community at Rice throughout the years. Recuerdos y Futuros will be on display through Oct. 15 in the lobby outside Fondren Library’s Kyle Morrow Room.
Join Rice Cinema for a film festival celebrating Latine Heritage Month. On Friday, “Tótem” tells the story of Sol, a 7-year-old girl who travels to her grandfather’s house where the family is having a birthday party for her father. On Saturday, “Dry Ground Burning” offers a provocative portrait of Brazil’s dystopian contemporary moment that blends documentary with narrative fiction and genre elements and presents a unique vision of the country’s possible future.
Sept. 29: Nuestra Herencia Concert, noon, Grand Hall, Rice Memorial Center
Enjoy an afternoon of music and dance. Nuestra Herencia will feature performances by Rice Salseros, Rice Zouk, Buhos del Norte, Academy of Folklore and Latin Rhythms and Mariachi Luna Llena.
Oct. 17: Latine Heritage Month Closing Activist Roundtable, noon, Room 130, Kraft Hall
Join local Houston activists as they share their work, their needs for allies and aspirations for future support of different Latine communities.