Community | Events | FeaturedSeptember 13, 2024

'Mi Casa es su Casa': UAFS Hosts Hispanic Heritage Month Events

Written By: Ian Silvester

The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith once again invites students, faculty, staff, and the community to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15) with five free events for all to enjoy.

Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates Latin American countries’ independence and is a time to honor their history and culture proudly. For Catherine González, TRIO Upward Bound Classic Coordinator, the month is a time to reflect on her own family’s journey from El Salvador to the United States and the journey of others who have followed a similar path.

“For me, it’s about the sacrifice people have made to come to this country and all the hard work that they’ve done. We have a month that we’ll dedicate toward them, celebrate them, and overall, help make this place home,” she said.

"Mi casa es su casa," said Cristina Castorena, the assistant director for financial aid client services. "Hispanic Heritage Month at UAFS is built very much that way. It's a tight knit community that opens its home for anyone to come in."

Twenty percent of students at UAFS identify as Hispanic. Events at UAFS will showcase Hispanic culture and share insight into what it means to be Hispanic. All events are at no cost and are open for everyone to enjoy and learn. Committee members hope the scheduled events encourage those who may not have visited the UAFS campus before to drop by, especially the Hispanic community around Fort Smith.

The UAFS Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee has five events scheduled, beginning on September 16 and concluding on October 8. Event times, locations, and descriptions are as follows:

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Monday, September 15

Cafecito con Pan Dulce, a popular event, kicks off the month of festivities and will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the UAFS Bell Tower. UAFS students, faculty, and staff are invited to learn more about Hispanic culture over traditional sweet bread (pan dulce) and a drink.

Tuesday, September 24

First Generation Latino Professionals will host a panel discussion from 6-9 p.m. in the Latture conference room inside the Business & Industrial Institute building. Panelists will include three UAFS alumni and a current UAFS staff member, Cristina Castorena, who serves as the marketing and scholarship manager of the Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee. Audience members will hear from former first-generation students who are now professionals. Castorena said the panelists will share how they got to their respective positions to show others that if someone who may look like them can do it, so can they.

Friday, October 4

Comedy Night with The Frisco Kid begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held outside at the UAFS amphitheater behind Boreham Library. Francisco Valencia, known as The Frisco Kid, is a comedian from Los Angeles who lives in Northwest Arkansas. The evening will be filled with laughs as the 2023 winner for The Best of NWA in Entertainment comedian tells stories about life while embracing his Chicano heritage for a unique perspective that resonates with diverse audiences. Follow The Frisco Kid on Instagram @thefriscokidliveand Facebook.

Monday, October 7

From the Classroom to the Capital: UAFS Students’ Role in the DREAMer Movement will be at 6 p.m. in the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center Reynolds Room. The panel discussion will be cohosted by Arkansas United, the UAFS Office of International Relations, and the Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee.

Tuesday, October 8

Salsa at the Bell Tower concludes Hispanic Heritage Month with free food from Zapata's Mexican Grill and Peruvian and Salvadorian restaurants and salsa dancing lessons beginning at 6 p.m. There will also be piñatas, Latin music, and a fashion show featuring traditional attire from Latin American countries. Two lucky students will be drawn to receive a $1,000 scholarship each.

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The Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee is made up of UAFS faculty and staff. They are:

• Catherine González, TRIO Upward Bound Classic Coordinator, serves as chair
• Monica Cortez, community outreach manager
• Patricia Hurtado Perez, Upward Bound Math/Science Coordinator, serves as budget manager
• Cristina Castorena, Assistant Director for financial aid client services, serves as marketing/scholarships manager
• Kari Carbajal, Coordinator for Registered Student Organizations, serves as logistics manager
• Madeline Martínez-Santiago, World Languages Instructor, serves as academic liaison

• Tags:
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• DEIB
• Salsa at the Bell Tower