UGA celebrates Latinx Heritage Month

Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia will celebrate Latinx Heritage Month 2023 with a wide variety of programs and activities across campus. The month-long, nationally recognized celebration is observed from Sept. 15-Oct. 15 and celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Fatima Banda, a fourth-year criminal justice and psychology major with a minor in social work from Gainesville, Ga., said that these events and organizations provide Hispanic students with spaces for students to find relatability and a sense of community.

“I’m from a place where I didn’t have to go out of my way to find that sense of community as it relates to my cultural background,” Banda said. “Here at UGA, I want to continue growing and learning in my sense of identity and cultural background, and HSA has been extremely rewarding in that way, and it has helped me learn about other cultures, as well.”

Elisa Fontanillas, a fourth-year advertising major with a business administration minor from Marietta, Ga., said that she was looking forward to meeting other Latinx students at UGA.

“My Latino/Latina community back home was a few people, including my own family,” Fontanillas said. “Here [at UGA], there are a lot more than I was used to, and it’s an opportunity for me to get in touch with my ethnic background with more people my age. The connections and relating about our experiences while attending a majority White institution have made such a big impact on me and taught me so much about myself.”

Fontanillas shared that excitement and enthusiasm for engaging with the Latinx student community is growing with each year.

“Our sophomores and first-years are a lot more excited and in touch with HSA,” Fontanillas said. “There are a lot more members of the community who are more invested in a positive way, and I’m excited to see our community grow and the excitement within our community grow in the future.”

Banda agreed, saying that motivation and morale are picking back up as we move further beyond the pandemic.

“I think it’s attributed to a stronger presence that HSA and MSP have on campus,” Banda said. “MSP has increased visibility on campus, and is letting all students know that these organizations aren’t just open for students from those backgrounds – that they’re for anyone interested in learning more about these heritages and embracing the culture that comes with it.”

Beginning with the Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff on Sept. 15, several student organizations and campus departments, led by the Hispanic Student Association (HSA) and Multicultural Services and Programs, will host events ranging from garden tours to service opportunities to athletics and social events.

This year’s slate of events saw an increased emphasis on collaborations between student organizations serving Hispanic and non-Hispanic students, including partnerships between HSA, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Indian Cultural Exchange, Latino/as Invested in the Student of Tomorrow (LISTo), the Pamoja Dance Company, and UGA Ballroom.

Hispanic Student Association events associated with Latinx Heritage Month are as follows:

Sept. 15: Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff, 8:00 p.m., Parking Lot by Sr. Sol

Sept. 19: FYC: Latino Spelling Bee, 7:00 p.m., Adinkra Hall

Sept. 20: HSAxSHPE Movie Night, 6:30 p.m., MLC 101

Sept. 21: MIP Experience

Sept. 22: HSAxICX Collab, 6:00 p.m., Adinkra Hall

Sept. 26: Sabor Latino Loteria GBM, 8:00 p.m., MLC 248

Sept. 27: Ethnobotanical Garden Tour, 5:00 p.m., Latin American Ethnobotanical Garden

Sept. 28: LISTo x HSA: LISTo Para Los Juegos, 6:00 p.m., Reed Quad

Sept. 29: Futbol Fiesta!, 6:00 p.m., Jack Turner Stadium

Sept. 30: Ethnobotanical Garden Cleanup, 10:00 a.m., Latin American Ethnobotanical Garden

Oct. 3: FYC: Pinata Making Fiesta, 7:00 p.m., Adinkra Hall