Cañada College Celebrates Latinx Heritage Month

Cañada College celebrated Latinx Heritage month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) with a series of events and conversations relevant to the Latinx community. The Cañada Latinx Heritage Month Planning Team, comprised of students, staff, faculty and administrators, created a virtual space of inclusion that transcended diversity and explores our intersectional identities. All programs, workshops, and events were strategically planned to amplify Latinx voices and various identities, which included events that were built to share space with one another as a campus community of students, faculty, staff, administrators and the broader San Mateo County.

Highlights from Latinx Heritage Month include a “platica” on “Exploring racism” during Indigenous People’s Day which engaged students, staff, and community members in a discussion about the ways in which racism, colorism, anti-blackness and prejudice against our Indigenous communities shows up in Latinx spaces. During Latinx Game Night, presenters shared popular culture and traditional games that are central to different Latinx communities. Another event covered a discussion of gender roles in the Latinx Household, specifically how these roles can affect our academic, social and personal life and how to be self-advocates for change. During the Charlas y Dichos event, participants shared about their culturas and how our stories honor different traditions and language. With October also being Transfer Month, a panel of Latinx alumni were invited to share testimonios of resources and connections that supported their success.

In addition, community connection events were hosted to engage with our local neighborhoods and community members in Spanish, Spanglish, and English. Cañada College joined our Half Moon Bay partner, Ayudando Latinos a Soñar (ALAS), to learn about advocacy projects, community counseling and youth programming. Latinx Heritage Month culminated with a college-wide Foro Comunitario (Forum) on Zoom which was also broadcast live on Facebook to share how Cañada College is working to combat Anti-Blackness and share special resources to support students during COVID-19. 

Recordings from past events and additional details on Latinx Heritage Month can be found on the Latinx Heritage Month website. Thank you to the students, faculty, staff, administrators and broader campus community who joined in the months’ events to amplify Latinx voices and identities.