SDSU Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month 2023

From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, San Diego State University will be celebrating the culture and traditions of Hispanic, Chicanx and Latinx communities. As a federally-designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), SDSU proudly honors the many contributions of our Hispanic, Chicanx and Latinx students, faculty, staff and partners.

This year's theme is "Know Your Past to Transform Our Future: Siempre Pa’Alente y Nucan Pa’tras." 

"The goal of this year’s theme is to highlight the rise in legislation targeting our most vulnerable communities across the U.S., as well as the anti-Latino hate crimes occurring in parts of the nation," said Renzo Lara, director of the Latinx Resource Center. "We stand in unity with students and oppose anti-discrimination laws, policies and acts of bias and hatred towards our comunidad."

Lara said the term “Simpre Pa’alante y Nunca Pa’atras” was chosen by Latinx Resource Center students as "a statement of resiliency, fuerza (strength), and forward progress." 

Several departments and groups across campus will be hosting events and activities during the month. Here is a list of some of the events. You can also visit SDSU's Latinx Resource Center for more information and updates.

Join the first-ever Carne Asada Cookout!
12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 14
SDSU BRC 

The Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity invites you to the first-ever Carne Asada Cookout event. The Latinx Resource Center and Black Resource Center have come together to blend in the best of both cultures in one place. The event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 14. You can find them at the BRC’s Patio from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. ¡Te esperamos!

Attend the Latinas in STEAM event
12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 28 and Oct. 5
SDSU Imperial Valley and SDSU

Looking for networking opportunities in the STEAM field? You might be interested in the upcoming “Latinas in STEAM” event. The event will bring professionals and professors from different areas of STEAM to come and talk to students about opportunities in these fields. There will also be an art gallery of influential Latinas in STEAM fields. One event will be held on Sept. 28 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at SDSU’s Calexico site and the follow up will be from Oct. 5th-Oct. 12th at SDSU Love Library’s Donor Hall (week-long art display). ¡Aprovecha la oportunidad de networking en comunidad!

Quinceañera x Debut: Coming-of-Age, Colonialism & Culture with APIDA
11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oct. 11
SDSU Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, Templo Mayor

¡Ven a mis Quinces/Debut! Do you know the similarities and differences there are between Mexican and Philippines 15th birthday celebrations? Both cultures have more in common than you would think! The Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Center and the Latinx Resource Center have collaborated to offer educational programming for their shared celebrations. A dance instructor will teach the different dances of these intersecting cultures. ¡Ven a aprender y a bailar!

El Poder de tu Presencia: The Power of your Presence
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Oct. 13
Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center

The SDSU Latina Network cordially invites the campus community to its annual luncheon event “El Poder de tu Presencia: The Power of your Presence,” on Friday, October 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center. This year, we recognize an outstanding leader and Latina advocate in our community, Dr. Guillermina Gina Núñez-Mchiri, Dean of SDSU Imperial Valley. For more information about this event, or to register, please contact the Latina Network at [email protected]. 

You are invited to the “Pachanga!”
5-9 p.m., Oct. 19
SDSU Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union Courtyard

¡Unete a la fiesta! The LRC Center is hosting the annual Pachanga at the Aztec Student Union Courtyard to wrap up Hispanic/Latinx/e Heritage Month. The event will be held on Oct. 19 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and will include late night fun, food, music and more. 

Dialogando en Tijuanologias
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sept. 18 
SDSU Love Library

Join the Bi-weekly meeting “Dialogando en Tijuanologias” to chat about Tijuana and other Mexican border cities. The program is based on the book “Tijuanologias” by Heriberto Yepez. Meetings will be held every two weeks with the kickoff event happening during Hispanic Heritage Month, on Sep. 18.. All events will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays (Bi-weekly basis). Meetings will be located in the Love Library, LRC Conference Room #182 or virtually as well! For more information check out the Latinx Resource Center’s Instagram page. ¡No te lo puedes perder! 

Agua pasa por mi casa, Arte de mi corazón
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m, Mondays during the fall semester
SDSU Latinx Resource Center

Are you interested in Latin American art? Or are you an artist yourself? Come visit the Latinx Resource Center during bi-weekly interactive workshops on Mondays throughout the fall semester, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. For specific dates, check out LRC’s Instagram page. During the workshops, you will learn about Latin American artists and their iconic works of art and get to make your own pieces of art, inspired by Latinx art. ¡Saca a tu artista interior!

Siéntete “En Confianza”
SDSU Latinx Resource Center

Join the bi-weekly meetings for Latino, Chicano & Hispanic SDSU students. Meetings will be held every week on Tuesdays from 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the Latinx Resource Center conference room. Come join an open bilingual space to meet and connect with your community. ¡Te esperamos!

Joteria Sin Fronteras
SDSU Pride Center and Latinx Resource Center

Joteria Sin Fronteras is a joint initiative between the Pride Center and the Latinx Resource Center. Meetings will be held twice a month on Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., alternating locations between the Pride and Latinx Resource Center. If you are looking for a space for your identity exploration and “sin fronteras y limites”, Joteria Sin Fronteras is the right place. Come visit them at this Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. For more information check out their social media.  

Mariachi Sin Fronteras Festival
6 p.m., Sept. 16
SDSU Imperial Valley, Calexico 

In collaboration with the Consulate of Mexico in Calexico and the Calexico Rotary Club, SDSU Imperial Valley will hold the Mariachi sin Fronteras festival on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. at its Calexico site. The event, which is in celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day, will direct all of its proceeds to scholarships for SDSU Imperial Valley and local high school students.