Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in the Coastal Bend - The Bend Magazine

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in the Coastal Bend

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Del Mar College, and Art Museum of South Texas host various events in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month

By: Editorial Team  Photo courtesy of: Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi  

Every year Hispanic Heritage Month honors the contributions Hispanic-Americans have brought to this country. The celebration and representation of the undeniable enrichment found in Latinx and Hispanic communities’ cultures, traditions, and legacies extend from September 15 to October 15. A variety of organizations and businesses in the Coastal Bend have planned events throughout the month to honor the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success.

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) celebrates Hispanic Heritage month with a variety of cultural events. This year, both on-campus and virtual events will take place and are all open to the public. The Islander Cultural Alliance, a student-run cultural awareness organization, and the Hispanic Heritage Month Committee have organized 25 different events to take place throughout the month. With the exception of Pablo Ziegler and RADIOTANGO, all of the events between September 15 and November 15 are free to the public.

TAMU-CC’s month-long programming of events includes panel discussions and keynote speakers on a myriad of topics; art exhibitions exploring various themes; a papel picado workshop; a massive game of Lotería; the first show in the 2021-2022 Furgason Bravo Concert Series; poetry readings; a virtual cooking presentation from Vianney Rodriguez; and so much more. For a full rundown of TAMU-CC’s Hispanic Heritage Month events, check out their website.

Del Mar College will also celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through a variety of virtual events between September 15 and October 15. To recognize the accomplishments, struggles, culture, and history of Hispanic people, the college’s month-long event will feature presentations revolving around food, culture, poetry, and history. The virtual presentations can be found on Del Mar’s YouTube channel.

The Art Museum of South Texas (AMST) presents its inaugural Hispanic Heritage Month Speaker Series this year. The series entails discussions celebrating Latinx culture within our community and beyond and highlights the cultural significance and creative impact of Hispanic and Latin-American artists through demonstrations, lectures, and panel conversations. Check out the museum’s social media pages for updates on each of the speakers in the series and information on how you can attend!

The series from AMST will feature two free family days where guests are invited to visit the museum for free. On September 26, Corpus Christi native Diana López, author of the adaptation of Coco, will read her debut picture book Sing With Me: The Story of Selena Quintanilla and give a talk afterward. The second free family day event will take place on October 10 and feature owner and operator of JalaPeña Salsa Alissa Peña as she leads a salsa-making demonstration.

Outside of attending any of these incredible events, getting out into the community and supporting artists, businesses, restaurants, and shops owned by members of the Latinx community is a great way to celebrate and honor this month!