News SIU - SIU to observe Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month

The theme of this year’s festival, which begins on Wednesday, Sept. 14, is “Intersecciones – Building Bridges in the Face of Intolerance” and it includes poetry, dancing, discussion panels, a potluck and much more over a four-week period. Some events are informative while others are more social in nature, but all are free and open to the public.

“As the theme suggests, the emphasis this year is ‘intersectionality.’ We want to talk about the ways in which our experiences and accomplishments can help us better understand the histories and difficulties of other groups, and vice-versa,” Rene Francisco Poitevin, coordinator of the Hispanic/Latino Resource Center, said. “We want to celebrate our heritage, in its many permutations, while also making connections with what we share in common with other groups, highlighting that each heritage is also part of the social fabric of this country.”

The big kick-off for the month takes place on Thursday, Sept. 15, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Corker Lounge at the Student Center. This reception provides a chance for people to mingle and learn more about the month and planned activities.

David Romero and Matt Sedillo, both well-known spoken word artists, will be featured in the month’s keynote performance at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 21 in Grinnell Hall, Activity Room A. The poetry of Romero, a Mexican-American, has been published widely and he has appeared in media and on college campuses across the country. Sedillo, a Chicano and fellow “slam poet,” is also a published writer and has gained media attention and performed at festivals before thousands of people as well as at universities.

The Hispanic/Latino Resource Center, Black Resource Center, Colleges of Business and Liberal Arts, the Department of Music, the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities, the Hispanic Student Council, Ladies United Creating Change, and faculty members Jose Najar, Pamela Smoot and Roberto Barrios are among the sponsors and facilitators of Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month.

Read the full article here:
http://news.siu.edu/2016/09/091316cjm16131.html