Colleges celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

St. Philip’s College is hosting multiple events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month from through Oct.15.

St. Philip’s, long a historically black college, has also earned a designation as a Hispanic-serving institution, and has been celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month since 2008.

This year’s theme is “Honoring Our Heritage.”

“Our purpose is to celebrate and honor Hispanic Heritage Month,” Felipa Lopez, director of college services, said.

Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America, According to Hispanicheritagemonth.gov.

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

It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.

Sept. 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18.

To kick off the celebration, St. Philip’s volunteered Saturday at Guadalupe Plaza for the 31st annual 16 de Septiembre Parade and Festival sponsored by the Avenida Guadalupe Association.

From 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday at Heritage Pavilion at St. Philip’s students can get a taste of Colombian, Asian-Latin fusion and Mexican cuisine from mobile food trucks.

A meet and greet with artist Melissa Flores will from 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at the main campus, and there will be a reception for students and faculty.

The art exhibit will be from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 25-Oct. 12. in the Kathryn Morgan Gallery.

There will be showings of the film “Walk-Out” from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 27 in the Tiger Bistro at Southwest campus, 800 Quintana Road.

The film “Walk-Out” is based on a true story of a student activist and Mexican-American Paula Crisostomo who realized the disparity in treatment of Hispanic students and staged a peaceful walk-out in five East Los Angelos high schools in 1968.

“I hope that students will be impressed with the movie, and realize that Hispanics were being treated unfairly and the progress didn’t happen overnight.

“Also to know everyone is equal and I hope they can experience the journey,” Lopez said.

“Because of these walk-outs by those students, we are where we are today,” she added.

Events are free and open to the public.

For more information, call Lopez at 210-486-7231.

This college’s celebration rolls out today with an opening ceremony from 11 a.m.-11:50 a.m. in the Fiesta Room of Loftin Student Center.

On Tuesday, a presentation on the underground library by Ernesto Olivio will be from 10:50 a.m.-12:05 p.m. in Room 218 of the nursing complex.

Students United for the Dream Act will lead a session on “What Dreamers Should Know About the Deferred Action Policy” 9 a.m.-9:50 a.m. Thursday in the same room.

An Antojitos Festival sponsored by the office of student life will be from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the mall also Sept. 26.

Also, that day Dr. Larissa Mercado-Lopez will present “Fitness y Cultura: Blogging at the Intersections of Gender, Identity, Culture and Health” from 10 a.m.-10:50 a.m. in Room 218 of the nursing complex.

Civil engineer Hernan Jaramillo will speak from 11 a.m.-11:50 a.m. Oct. 3 also in Room 218 of the nursing complex.