Latinx Heritage Month 2023

Latinx Heritage Month at UWM 2023

“Latinx” (La-teen-ex) is an inclusive term used to include all gendered and non-gendered identities of peoples with Latin American ancestry. “Latinx” specifically refuses to further silence and erase Trans (non-binary and binary), gender non-conforming, non-binary, and genderqueer people.

Latinx Heritage Month at UWM is coordinated by a team of campus stakeholders offering a variety of programs that recognize and celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of people of Latinx, Afro-Latinx, Chicanx, Latin American, Caribbean, Spanish and Indigenous descent in the United States.   

National Latinx Heritage Month has been observed from September 15th to October 15th in the U.S. since 1988. It takes place during this time period to honor the independence days of several countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico and Chile, as well as Día de la Raza, a significant cultural celebration observed in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela.   

Contributors to Latinx Heritage Month at UWM 2023 include:

  • Campus Activities Board 
  • Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies 
  • Helen Bader School of Social Welfare 
  • Inclusive Excellence Center 
  • Lubar Entrepreneurship Center  
  • Manfred Olsen Planetarium 
  • Roberto Hernández Center 
  • Studio Arts & Craft Centre 
  • Sociocultural Programming 
  • UWM Libraries 
  • Women’s Resource Center 

 

Events to Save The Date For

Día de Los Muertos Ofrenditas Workshops  

Tuesday, October 24 | 1-4 p.m. | Union EG40
Wednesday & Thursday, October 25-26 | 4-7 p.m. | Union Concourse
Tuesday, October 31 | 1-4 p.m. | Studio Arts & Crafts Centre 

Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a vibrant and deeply rooted Mexican tradition celebrated annually on November 1st and 2nd. It is a time to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away. Ofrendas, meaning “offerings,” play a crucial role during this celebration.  Join us at one of our workshops to learn about this important celebration and make your own ofrendita! 

For more information or to request accommodations, contact Sociocultural Programming: sociocul@uwm.edu  

Sponsored by Sociocultural Programming, the Studio Arts and Crafts Centre, Latinx Student Union and the Military and Veterans Resource Center 

 

Día de Los Muertos Celebration 

Wednesday, November 1 | Celebration
11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Union Concourse

Celebrate Día de Los Muertos with live dance and music performances! Stop by to learn all about this tradition and see the ofrenditas displays made by students and campus partners. 

For more information or to request accommodations, contact Sociocultural Programming: sociocul@uwm.edu  

Sponsored by Sociocultural Programming

 

Annual Community Art Field Trip 

Friday, November 3 | Community Excursion
7 a.m.-5 p.m. | National Museum of Mexican Art

Join the Roberto Hernández Center (RHC) and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) for a community field Trip to explore community art in the Humboldt Park and Little Village neighborhoods, celebrating local arts and celebrate Dia de los Muertos. The cost of attendance is $5.00. 

For more information, contact the Roberto Hernandez Center: rhc@uwm.edu

Sponsored by the Roberto Hernandez Center and Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies  

 

Latinx Heritage Month 2023 Events

SEPTEMBER

UWM Libraries Distinctive Collections: Latinx Heritage Pop-Up Exhibit 

Friday, September 15 | Gallery Exhibition 
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | UWM Libraries (Archives, Special Collections, and American Geographical Society Library) 

For this year’s Latinx Heritage Month, UWM’s Distinctive Collections (Archives, Special Collections, and American Geographical Society Library) are hosting a month-long pop-up exhibit featuring an array of rare and unique materials that show the diverse cultures of Latin America and their rich histories both abroad and in Milwaukee. *Last date of the exhibit will be October 14th. * 

For more information or to request accommodations, please contact Georgia Brown: browngl@uwm.edu  

Sponsored by UWM Archives, UWM Special Collections, American Geographical Society Library and UWM Libraries 

 

Mexican Independence Day Parade & Festival 

Saturday, September 16 | Parade 
9 a.m.-1 p.m. | UMOS Headquarters 

Join the RHC Team for our annual presence at the Mexican Independence Day Parade in representation of UWM! Come ready to walk and cheer during the parade. It is an opportunity to engage with peers at UWM and Milwaukee’s Latinx community. The parade is from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and then there is a festival after for you all to enjoy!

For more information about the event and how to register, please contact the Roberto Hernandez Center: rhc@uwm.edu

Sponsored by the Roberto Hernandez Center and UMOS 

 

Latinx Placita: Latinx Heritage Month Kickoff and Mercado  

Tuesday, September 19 | Celebration 
11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Spaights Plaza 

Kick-off Latinx Heritage Month with Sociocultural Programming! Let’s celebrate with music, and dancing, and stop by our mercado to support local Latinx vendors, FREE paletas and more! 

Meet Our Vendors and Performers:

For more information or to request accommodations, please contact Sociocultural Programming: sociocul@uwm.edu  

Sponsored by the Sociocultural Programming and the Roberto Hernandez Center

 

Latinx Faculty, Staff, and Student Fall 2023 Reception 

Wednesday, September 20 | Reception 
12-2 p.m. | Lubar Entrepreneurship Center

UWM (UW Milwaukee) Latinx faculty, staff, and NEW/continuing students are invited to attend a campus gathering to help kick off Latinx Heritage Month and welcome everyone back to campus. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet and greet other Latinx colleagues, staff, and students and build community. Sponsored by the Roberto Hernandez Center (RHC) & the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS).

For more information, please contact Jesus Velarde Moctezuma: juvjr@uwm.edu

Sponsored by the Roberto Hernandez Center and Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies  

 

Bad Bunny Yoga 

Wednesday, September 20 | Yoga Instruction 
6-7 p.m. | Union Grand Ballroom

Get ready for a one-of-a-kind yoga experience that combines relaxation with the beats of Bad Bunny. Join us for a Bad Bunny-themed yoga session hosted by Resilient Joy (resilientjoyllc.com), the organization that believes in promoting wellness through creative and joyful practices. Unwind, stretch, and find your inner peace while grooving to the infectious rhythms of Bad Bunny’s music. Limited amounts of yoga mats will be provided, and feel free to bring your own! All skill levels are welcome!  

For more information or to request accommodations, contact Sociocultural Programming: sociocul@uwm.edu   

Sponsored by Sociocultural Programming, Campus Activities Board, Peer Health Educators, CHAARG, and the Women’s Resource Center 

 

Diverse Ideas: Tapas Ricas with Nashalee Rodriguez 

Tuesday, September 26 | Casual Conversation
12-1 p.m. | Lubar Entrepreneurship Center

Join the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center and Student Involvement as we bring Nashalee Rodriguez and her business, Tapas Ricas! This immersive experience involves Latin charcuterie with a Caribe Sabrosa twist. Hear as the owner details the origin of her business and experience as an entrepreneur. 

For more information, please contact Lubar Entrepreneurship Center: trammel4@uwm.edu  

Sponsored by the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center, Sociocultural Programming and the Women’s Resource Center 

 

Dancing Under the Stars 

Wednesday, September 27 | Performance
6-8 p.m. | UWM Planetarium

Celebrate Latinx Heritage Month with a night of dancing, music, and stars! Enjoy 20-minute stargazing shows in the planetarium at either 6:10 p.m. and/or 7:20 p.m. with music and dancing in between the shows. No advance registration is required; check in at the ticket table to reserve your spot for a planetarium show.  

For more information or to request accommodations, contact UWM Planetarium: planetarium@uwm.edu 

Sponsored by UWM Planetarium, Sociocultural Programming and the Roberto Hernandez Center 

 

Juntas – Circle of Support 

Wednesday, September 28 | Community Circle and Discussion
8-9:30 p.m. | TBD

 Juntas, or “together,” offers a brave space for Latinx womxn-identified students to share unique cultural experiences with other members of the UWM community. Latinx community and campus leaders will facilitate a cooperative learning experience for attendees through small discussions/”healing” circles. This program aims to help build relationships, share communal narratives, and develop tools for support, success, and self-care. “When one grows, we all grow.”  

Juntas will provide attendees an opportunity to reflect on self-care as a radical and transformative practice while connecting to attendees and facilitators on a deeper level to illuminate the beauty, diversities, and complexities of identifying as a Latinx womxn.  

Sponsored by the Roberto Hernández Center and the Women Resource Center 

 

OCTOBER

HOLA Latino Archives: ORAL HISTORY PODCAST LAUNCHING EVENT 

Thursday, October 5 | Podcast Launch
5-7 p.m. | UWM Libraries 4th Floor

HOLA (History Oral Latino Archives) is a collaborative project at the UWM between the UWM Libraries, the Roberto Hernandez Center, and the Chancellor’s Committee for Hispanic Serving Institutions. On this day we will share the HOLA free available themed podcasts to the community to enjoy and learn. This series of podcast supports the tradition and survival of oral histories in the Milwaukee Latinx community and increase knowledge and awareness of the activism and the many contributions of Latinx faculty, staff, students, community members, activists, and emeritus professionals to the Milwaukee community and to UWM as an institution. 

Sponsored by UWM Libraries, Robert Hernandez Center and Chancellor’s Committee for Hispanic Serving Institutions

 

Latinx Diversity Festival 

Thursday, October 12 | Celebration
11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Union Concourse 

Food, crafts, entertainment and more! Join the RHC and Sociocultural Programming in celebrating the diverse Latinx identity. Come learn about different Latin American and Caribbean countries! Pop in during your lunch hour or between classes to enjoy some live cultural entertainment and try some delicious food. 

For more information, contact Sociocultural Programming: sociocul@uwm.edu or Jesus Velarde-Moctezuma: juvjr@uwm.edu

Sponsored by Sociocultural Programming, Roberto Hernandez Center, Inclusive Excellence Center, and the Studio Arts and Craft Centre 

 

3rd Annual Prospanica Health Summit 

Friday, October 13 | Summit
9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Sixteen Street Clinic 

The primary goal of Prospanica MKE is to empower and enable Hispanic professionals to achieve their full educational, economic, and social potential. At this year’s summit, the focus will be on Nutrition, Mental Health, Careers and Health care.

For more information about this event, please contact: www.prospamnicamke.org

Sponsored by the Roberto Hernández Center 

 

Brown Bag Discussions 

Monthly Dates TBD | Discussion
11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Roberto Hernandez Center- Bolton 183 

Join the RHC for our Brown Bag Discussion Series where we connect students to opportunities to get involved on campus, learn more about the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers and their leadership offerings. Stay up to date with updates and details by following us on social media @uwmrhc. 

Call-out for student facilitators! If you are interested in facilitating a Brown Bag Series, please email contact Alberto Maldonado: donpepe@uwm.edu 

Sponsored by the Roberto Hernandez Center 

 

Latinx Heritage Month Awards

Friday, November 3| Award Ceremony
5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. | Lubar Entrepreneurship Center Innovation Commons 

Please join the Roberto Hernández Center and the UWM community in honoring and celebrating Latinx leaders and their professional trajectory, accomplishments, and contributions to our Latinx community and UWM. *Awardee(s) to be announced soon. Follow the Roberto Hernández Center on social media @uwmrhc for event updates and recognition details!

For more information, contact Roberto Hernandez Center: rhc@uwm.edu 

Sponsored by the Roberto Hernández Center 

 

UWM HSI Day of Engagement with Dr. Gina Garcia 

Friday, November 10 | Keynote and Workshop
9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Lubar Entrepreneurship Center

Dr. Garcia will provide a 90-minute keynote address and workshop focused on topics of equity and justice in higher education with an emphasis on understanding how HSIs embrace and enact an organizational identity for serving minoritized populations. Dr. Garcia draws from her book Becoming Hispanic Serving Institutions: Opportunities for Colleges and Universities, describing the different “types” of HSIs: Latinx-enrolling, Latinx-enhancing, Latinx-producing, and Latinx-serving. Dr. Garcia challenges audience members to think about how becoming an HSI is an individual process for each college and university.  

Sponsored by the Chancellor’s Committee for Hispanic Serving Initiatives, the Inclusive Excellence Center, the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, the Roberto Hernandez Center, and the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center.