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Each year, from September 15 through October 15, the nation observes Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched the fabric of our nation and society.

The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period.

The national theme for the 2024 Hispanic Heritage Month is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.” Every year the theme is selected by the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEMP), which advocates for Hispanic participation and representation in federal government. NCHEMP says, “The theme encapsulates the spirit of innovation, resilience, and unity that define the Hispanic experience.”

To honor this important month, Rollins is hosting a series of dynamic events and programming that offer several ways to honor and celebrate Hispanic heritage with thought-provoking conversations, themed celebrations, and more. ¡Vámonos!

Critical Coursework

In Foundations of Latin American and Caribbean Culture and Society, Spanish professor Patricia Tomé and postdoctoral fellow and sociologist Eldad Levy Guerrero lead students on an examination of the historical forces that have shaped Latin American and Caribbean culture and look at key challenges facing the region. The flagship course of the Latin American and Caribbean studies program, the class takes an interdisciplinary approach and serves as a broad introduction to the history, culture, and identity of the region.

“This course is incredibly important for anyone of Latino descent,” shares Tomé, “as much of what we study has likely shaped their lives in ways they may not even realize. We explore aspects of Latin American and Caribbean culture that may feel familiar and uncover how they came to be. However, the course may be even more valuable for those who are not from the region, especially Americans. Through comparison, it offers insights into both American and Latin American societies, examining how the United States has played a significant role in shaping Latin America. Many of the challenges that Americans see today—immigration, economic and labor issues, the drug trade, and tourism—are deeply rooted in a long history of U.S. involvement in the region.”

Tomé also teaches the Rollins College Conference (RCC) course Dream in Spanish, where students advance their communication skills in Spanish, aiming to improve speaking proficiency to near fluency through the analysis and interpretation of short films. Additionally, every student in the course volunteers weekly at the Winter Park Day Nursery to read books in Spanish to children.

“Introducing sounds and vocabulary in Spanish to young audiences reinforces literacy skills as well as diverse perspectives and languages with our youngest generations,” says Tomé.

Rollins Museum of Art

Nostalgia for My Island: Puerto Rican Painting from the Museo de Arte de Ponce

• When: Starting September 14

For the first time together outside Puerto Rico, the exhibition presents a selection of works from the museum’s collection, including several works by José Campeche y Jordán and Francisco Oller y Cestero, among other towering figures in the history of Puerto Rican art. The selection highlights a group of artists active during the first six decades of the 20th century who were instrumental in the development of Puerto Rican painting. Organized around three main themes, the exhibition explores the notion of longing and the development of identity for those born in the diaspora. The exhibition is curated by Iraida Rodríguez-Negrón, curator of the Museo de Arte de Ponce, and is accompanied by a fully illustrated, bilingual catalog.

Programs in Spanish

LA CURADORIA EN LOS MUSEOS DE ARTE

• When: September 21 | 2 p.m.

Curator of the Rollins Museum of Art Gisela Carbonell will be offering a presentation on curatorial work in art museums during which visitors will learn about the development of the collection and how the exhibitions are organized. Join the curator and members of the Encuentros group for an afternoon full of art.

WHAT’S NEW? RECENT ACQUISITIONS

• When: September 24 | 6 p.m.

Join Carbonell for exhibition tours in Spanish. Coffee and pastries provided by program sponsor Café Don Juan.

Lecture: Exploring the Origins of a Puerto Rican School of Painting Through the Collection of Museo de Arte de Ponce with Iraida Rodríguez Negrón

• When: October 8 | 6 p.m.

Through acquisitions and a robust program of temporary exhibitions, the Museo de Arte de Ponce has played an instrumental role in documenting the production of these artists. This lecture will showcase examples from the museum’s collection, including paintings from Nostalgia for My Island, to illustrate the Museo de Arte de Ponce’s significant role in the history of Puerto Rican Art.

Campus Center Cuisine

• Where: Marketplace
• When: Starting September 16

Starting September 16, Dining Services celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a culinary takeover featuring the flavors and aromas of Latin America. Taste dishes like pork adobada, carne asada, cilantro rice, fried avocado burrito bowl, chicken machaca tacos, Mexican chicken and lime soup, and lomo saltado (Peruvian beef and potato stew). Come hungry and ready for a fiesta.

Rollins Dance Program Workshops

• Where: Tiedtke Theatre & Dance Centre
• When: September 17, salsa | September 24, modern bachata | October 1, traditional Dominican vibe | October 8, salsa and social dancing | 5-6:30 p.m.

The Student Center for Inclusion & Belonging and Rollins Dance invite you to an electrifying four-week dance workshop series. Each week, dive into the rhythm of a new dance—from salsa and modern bachata to traditional Dominican vibe and social dancing. Whether you’re a pro on the dance floor or just starting out, this is your chance to move, connect, and celebrate.

Trivia Night

• Where: Dave’s Boathouse
• When: September 17 | 7-8 p.m.

Brought to you by the Center for Campus Involvement, Curtis Earth will be hosting Tuesday Trivia in Dave’s Boathouse: Hispanic Heritage Month edition! Grab a friend and test your knowledge to win a prize.

Let’s Get LITerary | Podcast

• Where: WPRK 91.5 FM
• When: September 20

Rollins’ DEI podcast and virtual book club is back this month with a discussion on Sana, Sana: Latinx Pain and Radical Visions for Healing and Justice, a multi-genre anthology of short essays and poems, featuring the editors of the book, David Luis Glisch-Sánchez and Nic Rodriguez-Villafañe, as special guests. The book is rooted in the deep desire to not only acknowledge and name the various forms of pain and trauma Latinx people experience regularly, but to do so in the service of imagining new futures and ways of being that prioritize healing and justice not just for Latinx people, but for Queer BIPOC communities and, ultimately, for all people.

Fiesta Hispana

• Where: Rice Family Pavilion
• When: September 24 | 4-6 p.m.

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with Viva la lengua, the Spanish club on campus. Swing by for a lively mix of music, refreshments, and exciting games, plus snap some memorable pics with friends at our photo booth. Show off your pride by rocking your favorite Hispanic sports jersey and jump into the action with our Copa Hispana tournament.

Sabor y Baile

• Where: Kathleen W. Rollins Hall, Galloway Room
• When: September 26 | 4:30-6 p.m.

Taste and dance at this Hispanic Heritage Month celebration sponsored by the Hamilton Holt School, Center for Career Life & Planning, and Center for Inclusion & Belonging. Light refreshments will be served. Bring a friend, good vibes, and your dancing shoes.

Gazpacho & Tapas Cooking Class

• Where: Casa Iberia
• When: October 1 | 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Join Viva la lengua, the Spanish club on campus, for a hands-on gazpacho and tapas cooking class and learn about the tapas tradition.

Cafecito and Refresh Break

• Where: Casa Iberia
• When: October 4 | 12-12:45 p.m.

Sponsored by Human Resources, Cafecito & Refresh Break is a faculty and staff wellness activity of connection, joy, and gratitude as we recognize Hispanic contributions and achievements at Rollins and beyond. Enjoy music, Cuban coffee, and light refreshments as we come together to recharge and celebrate our diverse community.

Hispanic Music and Karaoke

• Where: Casa Iberia
• When: October 8 | 12:30–1:30 p.m.

Join Viva la lengua, the Spanish club on campus, to learn about the different Hispanic rhythms and have the chance to participate in a group karaoke of their favorite Hispanic songs.

Colombian Film Festival

• Where: Bush Auditorium
• When: October 18 | 3-8 p.m.

Rollins is hosting the Festival de Cine Colombia Migrante independent film festival, which is centered on the intersection of environmental harm and extraction, migration, and communal displacement in Colombia. The festival will screen two feature-length documentaries—Páramos, el país de las nieblas and The Illusion of Abundance—as well as two short film documentaries—La muerte lenta de la laguna de San Agustín and Flores del otro patio. The film festival will continue October 19 and 20 in community centers in both Apopka and Kissimmee.

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