Saint Anselm College celebrated Latinx History Month from September 15 to October 15 with a host of unique and exciting events involving students, faculty and staff. Officially recognized as National Hispanic Heritage Month, this offers an opportunity to honor the histories, cultures and contributions of Latinx and Hispanic communities. Latinx people are the fastest growing racial/ethnic people in the country, with over 62 million people identifying as Latinx or Hispanic. Engaging with this month also encourages critical conversations about social justice, equity, and the ongoing struggles faced by Latinx individuals in the U.S.
Below are some highlights from the month’s celebration. More photos can be viewed in a gallery. Thank you to the the Office for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, and the Father Jonathan, O.S.B. Center for Intercultural Learning and Inclusion for coordinating the month-long celebration.
View the full photo gallery →
Fiesta Latina
The events kicked off on Sept. 15 with the Fiesta Latina mixer in the Jean Student Center. Attendees enjoyed some traditional Latin cuisine including garbanzos guisados, chicken Al pastor empanadas, and tostones with chimichurri - made by the talented chefs with Saint Anselm Dining Services.
The Latinx Immigrant NH experience
On September 22, community leaders Jason Bonilla and Karina Bonilla ’21 led an interactive discussion about the Latinx immigrant experience in Manchester. They discussed the many nuances of language, culture, food, and family in the Latinx community and explained how individual experiences vary, due to factors like geography and generation. It was thought-provoking as attendees shared personal stories, asked questions to deepen their understanding, and emphasized the importance of diversity in our vibrant city.
Dia De Los Anselmians
The celebrations then moved to the fourth floor of Alumni Hall with the Department of Modern Languages in the colorful LRC room. Here, students tried authentic food, participated in making cultural crafts while listening to curated music. Tanya Jaramillo Mesa ‘28 said she was thrilled to recreate making a silleta. These are the featured pieces of the Columbian festival of flowers known as the Feria de las Flores, which takes place annually in Medellín, Colombia. The main event is the Desfile de Silleteros, a parade where locals carry large, elaborate floral arrangements called silletas on their backs.
Multicultural Day
Family Weekend on Sept. 27 got even more exciting with the Multicultural Day celebrations, sponsored by the Intercultural Center. This was a great opportunity to honor the rich diversity of cultures that make up our community. Various groups and departments hosted informational booths with lots of food samples. Saint Anselm Dining Services also provided delicious cuisine representing Burma, China, Italy, Ghana, Mexico, Jamaica, Greece, Germany, Ukraine, India and Poland.
Concierto De Musica Latina
The Fine Arts Department in collaboration with the Father Jonathan Center for Intercultural Learning and Inclusion presented a concert on Wednesday, October 8th in honor of Latinx Heritage Month. Faculty performers Molly Lozeau, Sean Parr, Francesco Barone, and Brittney Redler performed pieces composed by musicians of Hispanic heritage, including Spanish-born Enrique Granados, Fernando Obradors and Manuel de Falla, along with Manuel Ponce who hails from Mexico and Alberto Ginastera who was from Argentina.
Salsa Madness
Hips were moving in the Dana Center on Oct 7 when the Intercultural Center hosted Salsa Madness! Anselmians learned how to perform this traditional dance from instructors from the Royal Palace Dance Studio in Manchester.
Read Between the Lines/Poetry
What better way to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month than through powerful words! Geisel Library hosted their poetry event, Read Between the Lines, on Oct. 15. With cozy drinks and refreshments handy, students and staff read aloud some impactful poetry from writers of Hispanic heritage including Gabriela Mistral, Pablo Naruda and Claribel Alegria.
