National Hispanic Heritage Month, commemorated annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, celebrates the histories, achievements and accomplishments of the Latinx community in the United States.
The National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM) has named the theme for this year as “Collective Heritage: Honoring the past, Inspiring the future.” The theme aims to recognize achievements and accomplishments of the past, while recognizing those who continue to shape the future.
For Latinx Student Union (LSU) President Monica Marcial, the theme reminds her to keep her loved ones’ lessons in mind during her day-to-day life.
“I always think about the people who have passed already, like my grandma,” Marcial said. “They passed down dichos and things to live by, and I've definitely incorporated that into my daily life.”
Read on for a list of events celebrating the Latinx community in the Portland area.
El Grito Portland
National Hispanic Heritage month coincides with the anniversaries of many Latin American countries' independence days. El Grito de Dolores, the event that marked the start of the Mexican War of Independence, is commemorated in cities across Mexico and in other countries, including Portland.
Hosted on Sept. 14-15 outside of the Moda Center, El Grito promises food, music and a reenactment of the start of the Mexican War of Independence. The two-night event is free for all, and an event schedule can be found here.
“Worry Dolls”
Milagro is a local theater company focused on providing extraordinary Latino arts, culture and heritage for everyone. During Hispanic Heritage month, the company will be showing a new play, “Worry Dolls,” by local actor and playwright Maya Malan-Gomez. The show will run from Sept. 4 to 21, tickets can be bought here.
“Worry Dolls,” is the story of two best friends, Luz and Sonia, as they struggle through the anxieties of growing up in a post-pandemic world. The play incorporates Guatemalan muñecas quitapenas, or worry dolls, to tackle the harsh realities of grief, trauma and mental health.
“Cultural Connections: Celebrating Mexican Heritage through Charrería”
Stelo Arts, a non-profit foundation dedicated to the arts, will host an art exhibit from Sept. 4 to Oct. 11 intending to celebrate the rich traditions of charrería. Charreria is a Mexican sport that is rooted in the country’s history.
The exhibit is in collaboration with IDEAL PDX, an art collective dedicated to uplifting Latin American artists in Oregon and will feature murals by Oliver Casillas and photography by Inés Magaña.
Portland Latin American Film Festival
From Sept. 24 to Nov. 12, Hollywood Theatre will screen 11 contemporary Latin American films and one short film in honor of this month's celebration.
The festival will feature works that highlight themes of nostalgia, justice and resilience. Tickets can be purchased on the cinema’s website.
Samantha Zavala is the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Editor for The Beacon. She can be reached at zavala27@up.edu
