Recognizing Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month

September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month. To encompass the diverse group this holiday recognizes we’ve included Latinx in the official title. Latinx references a person of Latin American origin or descent and is a gender-neutral alternative to Latino or Latina. Hispanic refers to people who speak Spanish or are descendants of Spanish-speaking populations.

History

This month of recognition begins on September 15 because it coincides with national independence days in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico’s national independence day is 9/16, Chile’s is 9/18, and Belize’s is 9/21.

Learning Opportunities

Heritage months are the perfect time to immerse yourself in a culture and learn more about it. The Smithsonian has many virtual events available over the next few weeks including art demonstrations, storytelling and environmental justice webinars.

The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) also has various online exhibitions and resources to elevate your learning.

Learning Spanish or want to brush up on your skills? Listen to this podcast, News In Slow Spanish, that covers current events, Spanish grammar and expressions at a slow pace to help with learning and understanding.

Additional Resources & Activities

Visions’ Instructional Team put together a curated list of additional learning resources.

Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Google Slides – Visions collected lessons and resources with a main focus on stories shared through Latinx voices and perspectives.

Hispanicheritagemonth.gov – The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join together to pay tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society.

Hispanic Heritage Teacher Guides – Information and lessons about Hispanic and Latinx heritage and history in the United States.

Scholastic – A month of ideas for celebrating Hispanic heritage from Scholastic.

Community Resources

Visions is proud to serve a diverse population. These local organizations provide programs and services to support our Hispanic/Latinx families:

La Familia Counseling Center – Sacramento: youth programs, counseling and more.
El Concilio – Stockton: family wellness, childcare, counseling and job readiness.
RYSE Center – Richmond: youth programs and support services.
Diaz & Loera Centro Latino – Vallejo: Latinx family resource center.
RISE Inc. – Yolo County: social services and youth programs.
Latino Community Foundation Power Map: find more resources in your area using their interactive map.