Carolina celebrates Latinx Heritage Month
This year's theme for the celebration is "Vivir Mi Vida," or "live my life," with a focus on sharing the stories of the Latinx community and encouraging students to express their authentic selves.
UNC-Chapel Hill will celebrate Latinx Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 with more than a dozen events, including lectures, film viewings, musical performances and workshops. The Carolina Latinx Center leads the celebration in collaboration with organizations and departments from across campus.
This year’s theme is “Vivir Mi Vida,” or “live my life,” with a focus on sharing the stories of the Latinx community and encouraging students to express their authentic selves. The theme, Carolina Latinx Center Director Josmell Perez said, is fitting following two years of a pandemic that led many to re-examine what is important to them.
“I think there’s been a lot of loss, a lot of hardships. At least for me, it’s allowed me to re-evaluate the importance of community, the importance of family, the importance of people rather than things,” Perez said. “I want people to be their best selves, to be just happy with who they are and what they represent on a daily basis.”
Gold-medal-winning gymnast Laurie Hernandez will headline the month of events at the annual Latinx Heritage Month Lecture on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. Sponsored by the Carolina Latinx Center, the Carolina Union Activities Board and Student Life and Leadership, the address will be held at the Carolina Union’s Great Hall.
Tickets will be available at HeelLife.unc.edu soon.
Other events include:
- Sept. 15: The Latinx Heritage Month Kick-Off from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Pit.
- Sept: 20: A Top of Lenoir dinner featuring Latin American dishes at 5 p.m.
- Sept. 25: A performance by clarinetist Matthew Svec featuring music by Latin American composers in Hill Hall at 3 p.m. The performance at Moeser Auditorium is free.
- Sep. 29: An exploration of African and Indigenous roots of Latin American music led by David Garcia, the chair of the College of Arts and Sciences’ music department, and Associate Professor Juan Alamo at 4 p.m. at RTI International. The event will also be available via Zoom. Registration is required for both in-person attendance and Zoom, and can be found on the Carolina Latinx Center website
- Oct. 6: A skills workshop on classic Latinx make-up looks at the Carolina Union at 5:30 p.m. Registration is required for this event and will be open on Heelife.unc.edu soon.
Check the Carolina Latinx Center calendar for more event information and updates.
