Celebrations for Hispanic Heritage Month are underway with a plethora of events to choose from on campus from September 15 through October 15.
Los Angeles County is home to nearly 5 million people of Hispanic heritage, composing almost half of the county’s population. According to the latest U.S. Census data, Latinos are the largest ethnic group in L.A. and across California. According to USC’s Facts and Statistics, 15.9% of the student population at the University of Southern California (USC) is Hispanic or Latino. These events allow students to enjoy Mexican food, film screenings and music ensemble performances throughout school grounds. Here’s a list of some of the programs open to students.
La Voz Community Health Fair launched the month’s festivities with a free health event that included fresh produce, informational sessions on blood pressure management and diabetes and free flu vaccinations. The event, which is open to all USC students, was hosted by USC’s Hispanic and Latinx employee resource group La Voz in collaboration with the Keck School of Medicine’s Latinx and Hispanic inclusion resource group La Communidad.
When: September 13, 2024, 3:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Plaza De La Raza, 3540 N Mission Rd, Los Angeles
Students can reminisce on family home-cooked meals and traditions at the film screening of “Abuelitas on the Borderlands: Los Angeles” with creator, co-director and producer Dr. Sarah Portnoy. The film centers around a shared love of food that connects the stories of ten Indigenous, mestiza, Mexican American, and Afro-Mexican grandmothers in L.A..
When: September 18, 2024, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Student Union (STU) 400
Join Assistant Professor of Sociology at UC Berkeley and USC Sociology PhD Alum Stephanie L. Canizales for a candid conversation on her book “Sin Padres, Ni Papeles” at ERI Book Talk. The event is an open discussion on “unaccompanied and undocumented journeys of the migrant youth to the U.S.” Reservations are required and lunch will be provided.
When: September 19, 2024, 12:00 –1:30 p.m.
Where: Ronald Tutor Campus Center (TCC) 227
“Ghostly Labor,” by San Francisco-based dance and music ensemble La Mezcla, is coming to USC during Hispanic Heritage Month. Presented by Visions and Voices, this performance tells a story about labor along the U.S.-Mexico border. Stick around after the performance for a Q&A with Josh Kun, the USC Vice Provost for the Arts, and Vanessa Sanchez, the founder of La Mezcla. Admission is free, and reservations are required.
When: September 19, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Bovard Auditorium (ADM)
Watch and honor the work of Latina actress Rita Moreno at Beyond Stereotypes: Latina Representation in Hollywood. The event will highlight the career and journey of Rita Moreno as a groundbreaking figure in Hollywood through a screening of “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It” and an open dialogue on stereotypes associated with Hispanic women in the entertainment industry. RSVP is required to attend the event.
When: September 25, 2024 12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Where: Ronald Tutor Campus Center (TCC) 224
Jazz Night will feature the Afro-Latin American Jazz Ensemble led by faculty member Aarón Serfaty, and will highlight a union of compositions of signature Latin songs and singers. Admission is free and the event is open to the public.
When: September 30, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Carson Soundstage (CTV 136)
Latinx and the Census is a “library data and visualization workshop” demonstrating scholarship and research through tangible data. Understand how the U.S. Census accounts for the Latinx population in the United States using online library databases, including but not limited to Census tools and SocialAnalytics. Reservation is required and 28 seats are available.
When: October 3, 2024, 11:00 am – 12 p.m.
Where: Library for International and Public Affairs, B33
Wrap up Hispanic Heritage Month with Noche de Cultura, an all-encompassing event organized by La CASA and the Student Equity and Inclusion Programs.
When: October 15, 2024, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Where: Founders Park