Celebrating National Latine/x Heritage Month at USC
¡Bienvenido! Welcome!
As we approach National Latine/x Heritage Month, we reflect on our celebrations of the history, culture and community of the Latinx communities at USC.
The celebration of National Latine/x Heritage Month uniquely begins in the middle of the month, on September 15, the date that coincides with the Independence Day anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates their Independence Day on September 16th.
To celebrate the start of this heritage month, we wanted to highlight some resources and organizations that all students can utilize on campus:
USC has numerous resources to support the needs and success of all students interested in learning about the Latinx community and culture. Since its founding in 1972, La CASA empowers all students through cultural identity, leadership, and social consciousness development. This month, La Casa will be celebrating Latine/x Heritage Month by hosting “Noche de Cultura” on October 15. Anyone is welcome to attend! La CASA is a space where students can experience cultural community and connectedness; it can be your space to seek help and support, or simply a great place to study too.
USC Libraries also created a Latinx Heritage Month Reading List. The list includes Hispanic Voices by Sara Torres, Medicine Women, Curanderas, and Women Doctors by Bobette Perrone; H. Henrietta Stockel; Victoria Krueger, and many more books written by Latinx authors and scholars. Furthermore, for students interested in pursuing research at USC, the USC Libraries database has a Latin American Studies Research Guide, which is a helpful tool to navigate the abundance of available resources.
For over 45 years, all Trojans have been welcome to live in the Latine Living Learning Community. The goal of the Latinx Floor is to create a positive and supportive environment that helps its students navigate their experience at USC while empowering them to be leaders. “The Floor” has been a community to help students feel a sense of belonging and where friends become family.
We have a dynamic and prideful Latinx community who value sharing their culture with others and thrive at USC. The Latine Student Assembly (LSA) is a cultural assembly that fosters pride in Latinx heritage and culture. LSA supports student-run member organizations with the resources to host events to make a positive impact in the community and to educate the USC student body.
The USC Latino Alumni Association (LAA) is one of the nation’s leading alumni associations for those interested in Latinx culture. LAA hosts their annual Scholarship Gala where a student is celebrated as the recipient of the Dr. John R. Hubbard Recognition Award for their academic achievements, leadership and community service.
Amongst the dozens of student organizations on campus that celebrate the Latinx community, one that promotes a sense of pride and passion for Latinx representation in cinema is The Latinx Film & Media Association (LatiFAM). Representation includes the actors onscreen and those who work behind the scenes in productions like directors and writers. LatiFAM’s goal is to highlight Latinx creatives in the entertainment industry. This organization hosts screenings for both student films and blockbuster movies like In the Heights. LatiFAM has previously hosted a Carne Asada Welcome for new students with delicious (and free) pupusas, tacos, agua frescas and paletas. Join this club to experience an empowering connection with fellow filmmakers and film enthusiasts. Students can connect with one another to collaborate on film projects, discuss the movies they love, and highlight the importance of Latinx stories being told through film. Follow their Instagram to stay in the loop about future events and film screenings: @latifamdeusc
Latinx/e Heritage Month is not only for the Latinx community. It’s truly a celebration that everyone can participate in! At USC, all students are encouraged to participate in these events to uplift each other and celebrate community.
Visit the Latinx/e Heritage Month Event Calendar for events happening around USC.
Original by: Lina Goggins-Rendón, Assistant Director - USC Office of Admission
Updated by: Marlin Banuelos, Assistant Director - USC Office of Admission