Fresno State’s Central Valley Cultural Heritage Institute and student group Entre Mujeres plan numerous activities to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 17-Oct. 10, with the theme “Many Backgrounds, Many Stories … One American Spirit.”

First on the schedule was a one-hour kick-off in the Free Speech Area on campus, featuring cultural performances by the Fresno State Salsa Club, speakers, Latino Club information tables and distribution of a calendar of events in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Congress has recognized Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to reflect on the history, culture and contributions of Americans with cultural ties to Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

The Fresno State celebration will include the following events:

  • Sept. 18 – International Student Services and Programs presents International Coffee Hour 2 -3 p.m. in the Henry Madden Library, Room 2206, with Sergio Rosales discussing how governing styles across several time periods still define parts of the Mexican way of life.
  •  Sept. 21 – Fresno State’s CineCulture film series will screen “A Better Life” at 5:30 p.m. followed by a discussion led by Dolores Huerta, a co-founder of the United Farm Workers union. The film, which tracks the personal struggle of an immigrant gardener, will be shown at the Leon S. and Pete P. Peters Educational Center in the Student Recreation Center.
  • Sept. 22 – The Central Valley Youth Leadership Conference will convene 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Vintage Room and University Student Union, designed to inspire students to take action in their communities.
  •  Sept. 28 – Fresno State’s Club Austral – Revista Literaria Austral will present the Chilean film “Todos Somos Huachos” by Alejandro Fernandez Almendras at 6 p.m. Contact clubaustra_rp@hotmail.com for more information.
  •  Oct. 5 – The musical performance and workshop “Sustaining the Note, The Folk and Lore. Quijeremá’s Al Son Del Tunduki” will be presented by the Fresno State Department of Music noon-1:30 p.m.  at the Wahlberg Recital Hall in the Music Building. The performance will begin at 8 p.m. in the Concert Hall of the Music Building.At 5:30 p.m. in the Leon S. and Pete P. Peters Educational Center, CineCulture will screen the film “Mexican Suitcase.”
  • Oct. 10 – Hispanic Heritage Month’s final event at 6 p.m. is the presentation of the film “Miss Representation” in the Henry Madden Library, Room 2206. The film will be hosted by Entre Mujeres and the Center for Women and Culture and Hispanas Organized for Political Equality.

For more Information, contact the Central Valley Cultural Heritage Institute at 559. 278.6946.

(Copy by University Communications news student assistant Samantha Gibson.)