Annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the achievements, contributions and histories of the Latinx diaspora in the United States.
On-campus events for the month are typically spearheaded by the University of Portland’s Latinx Student Union (LSU), a club that aims to create a communal space for UP’s Latinx population and all those who want to learn about Latinx cultures.
Read on for a list of events to celebrate both on The Bluff and in the Portland area.
On campus
Heritage Night
LSU will host a Heritage Night in partnership with UP Athletics Sept. 13 at the men’s soccer game versus Saint Louis University. The club will be selling chamoy-rimmed aguas frescas for $5 a piece to fundraise for the club. Though hosted by LSU and UP Athletics, other cultural clubs on campus are encouraged to attend as the night is an opportunity to shine a light on all the cultures represented at UP.
“Yes, it’s the heritage night for all of Latin America,” LSU President Josué Garcia said. “It's also to spotlight other clubs on campus so they get that traction as well.”
Student tickets to the game are free. All other tickets can be purchased here.
Latinx Student Union’s Carne Asada Mixer
LSU will also be co-hosting their annual Carne Asada Mixer Sept. 19 with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). The event will include free Mexican food provided by the clubs and will end with a “baile” (dance). Garcia says that the event will be a time for community building.
“It’s just a time for everyone to get together and talk,” Garcia said. “They’ll be able to mingle and play games and have a dance after.”
Garcia encourages those interested in the event to keep an eye on the LSU Instagram for further details as they are confirmed.
Off Campus
El Grito Portland
National Hispanic Heritage month begins on the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, such as Mexico, celebrating the sovereignty of these countries from colonial powers.
El Grito de Dolores, the celebration that commemorates Mexico’s entrance into the Mexican War of Independence, is an event celebrated annually both in Mexico and abroad, including a celebration in Portland.
El Grito will take place Sept. 15-16 outside the Moda Center in downtown Portland and is free to attend. The celebration promises food stands, live music, dancing and the traditional reenactment of Mexico’s Declaration of Independence.
Garcia, a senior who has attended El Grito every year since coming to UP, says that the event has been a way for him to reconnect with his culture.
“It's a good experience to just be there and get connected, even if you aren't really connected with your culture,” Garcia said. “I feel like, before college, I might have not been the most connected with my culture, and here I am now, president of a cultural club.”
Those attending can access the full schedule of events here.
Portland Latin American Film Festival
Whether you’re a film buff or simply in need of a fun night out, the Hollywood Theatre will be screening nine contemporary Latin American films from Sept. 25 to Nov. 24. The festival has been running for 18 years, and this year’s showcase features several works highlighting themes such as coming-of-age and identity. Tickets can be purchased here.
Maggie Dapp is the Sports Editor at The Beacon. She can be reached at dapp26@up.edu.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story listed the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán de UP (MEChA) as one of the co-hosts of the Carne Asada Mixer. However, the club is no longer participating in the event.
