LaGuardia Community College Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month 2024
Casa de las Américas hosts Open House and Block Party; BMEC shows Hispanic Heritage Movie; Campus Life hosts acclaimed author Arianna Davis
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (September 17, 2024) — LaGuardia Community College/CUNY will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month 2024 with events hosted by Casa de las Américas (“La Casa”), the Black Male Empowerment Cooperative (BMEC), and Campus Life.
On September 25, La Casa invites the college community to an open house in its new location on campus in M-144, where attendees will learn about its programming for the fall semester. On October 1 and October 9, Campus Life and BMEC, respectively, will host showings of a movie about the migrant experience. Also on October 9, Campus Life will host a visit from acclaimed author Arianna Davis. And on October 16, La Casa and Campus Life will co-host a Hispanic Heritage celebration on the LaGuardia Community Greenway. This event is free and open to the public.
National Hispanic Heritage Month pays tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society. It begins annually on September 15, aligning with the independence days of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16, and Chile on September 18. This tradition started as a week-long event in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson and was expanded to a month-long celebration, running from September 15 to October 15, by President Ronald Reagan in 1988.
“As a Hispanic-Serving Institution, we are extremely proud to honor National Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Ingrid Veras, Ph.D., associate professor of biology with the Natural Sciences Department and co-director of Casa de las Américas, which aims to empower LaGuardia’s Hispanic students and celebrate the diverse traditions and history of Hispanic heritage across the Americas. “La Casa is building a vibrant community where students connect with their heritage, share their stories, and find resources to help them thrive academically and personally.”
The U.S. Education Department designates colleges and universities with at least 25% Hispanic students as Hispanic-Serving Institutions. At LaGuardia, 46% of students are Hispanic. In New York State, LaGuardia ranks among the top five colleges for Hispanic student enrollment and degree or certificate completion. Nationwide, more than 500 HSIs educate 55% of Hispanic students, totaling nearly 5 million students.
LaGuardia Hosts Events to Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month 2024
On Wednesday, September 25, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., La Casa will host an Open House to welcome the LaGuardia community to its new space in Shenker Hall, Room 144 (M-144). Attendees will meet staff and students and learn about La Casa’s fall semester programming. Refreshments will be available.
“We are thrilled to welcome the LaGuardia community to La Casa’s new, larger space,” said Ryan Mann-Hamilton, Ph.D., co-director of La Casa and associate professor of Anthropology, Latin American and Caribbean Studies in the Social Sciences Department. “This expansion reflects our commitment to providing a supportive and enriching environment for our Hispanic students. With more room to host events, workshops, and gatherings, we can better serve our students and our community.”
On Tuesday, October 1, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Poolside Café, Campus Life will host a showing of “A Million Miles Away,” a 2023-release based on the inspiring true story of José M. Hernández. Portrayed by Michael Peña, Hernández is a first-generation Mexican American who rose from working as a farmworker to becoming a NASA astronaut. An encore showing of the movie will be hosted by LaGuardia’s BMEC, part of the LaGuardia Multicultural Exchange program and CUNY’s Black Male Initiative, on Wednesday, October 9, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in MB-06.
On Wednesday, October 9, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in M-118, LaGuardia Campus Life will host acclaimed author Arianna Davis for a discussion, reading and book signing. Ms. Davis is the Editorial Director of TODAY Digital, overseeing news, trending, and lifestyle across TODAY’s digital platforms. She was previously Senior Director of Editorial and Strategy at Oprah Daily—formerly known as O, The Oprah Magazine—where she oversaw digital editorial direction and strategy across the brand. Previously, she was Digital Director of O, leading the launch of OprahMag.com in 2018. Ms. Davis is also the author of “What Would Frida Do? A Guide to Living Boldly” (Seal Press, 2020), inspired by the life of icon Frida Kahlo. Ms. Davis was previously a senior features writer at Refinery29 who specialized in features, pop-culture, personal essays, and topics relevant to Black and Latina women.
On Wednesday, October 16, from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., La Casa and Campus Life will celebrate the conclusion of National Hispanic Heritage Month with a block party on the LaGuardia Community Greenway (29th Street between Skillman and 47th Avenues). The event will feature refreshments, music, a domino tournament, games, and information about resources available at LaGuardia and from community organizations.
The October 16th event will feature a performance by Tambacum, a traditional music group from Golfo de Tribugá, on the Afro-Pacific coast of Colombia. Founded in 2020 in Nuquí’s Calle de la Virgen, Tambacum celebrates the region’s Afro-Colombian culture with rhythms of Tamborito and Cumbancha. The group is led by singer, composer, and dancer Jhon Esteban Lasso Mena. Tambacum’s performance is made possible in part through ArtsCONNECT, a program of Mid Atlantic Arts, which receives funding support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
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LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.
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