From business forums to lively, colorful cultural celebrations, many events are planned throughout October to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Grand Valley State University.
The national month-long celebration begins September 15, which marks the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries, through October 12, when Columbus Day is observed in the United States and El Dia de la Raza is observed in Latin America.
Events at Grand Valley, which are free and open to the public, including the following:
- Festival of Food and Music; September 18, noon-2 p.m.; Kirkhof
Center, Grand River Room, Allendale Campus
Selene Lacayo, executive director of the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, will explain the origin of serenades and why they are popular in Hispanic culture. Various dishes from local Hispanic restaurants will be available and a musical trio will perform.
- Hispanics in West Michigan: Challenges and Opportunities;
September 19, 6-7:30 p.m.; Cook DeWitt Center, Allendale Campus; and
September 20, 5:30-7 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew
Grand Rapids Campus
José Reyna, assistant to the city manager, City of Grand Rapids, will talk about the Hispanic demographic in West Michigan. This fast-growing population heavily impacts local business, economy and culture.
- Guitarist Ernesto Bitetti; September 28, noon-1p.m.; Cook DeWitt
Center
Ernesto Bitetti, a native of Argentina, is the most recorded guitarist in the world. Bitetti will perform works by Villalobos, Moreno, Albéniz, Cardoso, Piazzolla, and others.
- Film: "Buscando a Leti" (In search of Leti) The Life of
Immigrants; September 28, 4-6:30 p.m.; Lake Superior Hall, room 175,
Allendale Campus
Dalia Tapia, born in Mexico and raised in the United States, will present her movie. The film portrays the conflict that immigrants confront when they leave their home countries for the promise of a better life.
- Hispanic Business Forum; October 4, noon-2 p.m.; Loosemore
Auditorium, DeVos Center
Frank Coronado, president of the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Dante Villareal, business consultant from the Small Business and Technology Development Center, will lead a discussion regarding Hispanic businesses in West Michigan. Other panelists include Martha Cerda, 2005 Latina of the Year; Jorge Gonzalez, GVSU alumnus and 2005 Latino of the Year; and Sandra Ramos, from Chemical Bank.
- Hispanic Poetry; October 2, 4-5:30 p.m.; Kirkhof Center, Pere
Marquette Room
Three Hispanic published poets -- Zulema Moret, from GVSU's Modern Languages and Literatures Department; Joana Goergen, DePaul University; and Alvaro Leiva, Albion College -- will recite their works in Spanish and English.
- Spanglish: The New Linguistic Hybrid; October 5, 1-2 p.m.;
Kirkhof Center, rooms 215/216
Yvette Fuentes and Keith Watts, from the Modern Languages and Literatures Department, will present how this new "language" has emerged in the United States due to the blending of the English and Spanish languages.
- Hispanic Women: Hopes, Dreams and Cultural Realities; October 11,
3-4:30 p.m.; Cook DeWitt Center
Khedija Gadhoum, assistant professor of Modern Languages and Literatures, with expertise in women's writing in Africa and Latin America, will moderate a diverse panel of speakers to discuss the issues Hispanic women face in American society along with their thoughts, dreams and challenges.
Sponsors of Hispanic Heritage Month are the Office of Multicultural Affairs, College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Housing, Latin American Studies, Modern Languages and Literatures, Pew Faculty Teaching and Learning Center, Seidman College of Business, School of Communications, School of Social Work, Women and Gender Studies, Latino Student Union and Women's Center. Questions can be directed to Sandra Fernandez-Tardani, Multicultural Affairs, at (616) 331-2177.
