National Hispanic Heritage Month started as a celebration of the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries in 1921: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

The annual recognition period started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to be a monthlong observation from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

The Cross Cultural and Gender Center has put together a calendar of featured events and welcomes the campus community to attend. Below you'll find details for all events including date, time and links. Also, make sure you are following @fresnostateccgc on Instagram for updates on all events.

This week

Sept. 16: La Bienvenida, presented by Latina/o Faculty and Staff Association, is a program that welcomes new and returning Latina/o students, faculty and staff to campus and to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month. Our focus this year is a celebration of Latin America, and we encourage anyone interested to wear traditional attire to share your culture. Join us from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Peace Garden. Contact: Estevan Parra, estevanp@csufresno.edu.

Upcoming Events

Sept. 21: International Coffee Hour, presented by Study Abroad/International Programs, 2 to 3 p.m. in Library 2206, featuring keynote speaker John Goldberg, who will speak on Costa Rica. Contact: Marcela Magdaleno, marcela@csufresno.edu.

Sept. 23: Latinx Librarian Workers Panel, a virtual panel of Latinx library workers from 1 to 2:15 p.m. hosted by the Henry Madden Library Diversity Committee and The Cross Cultural and Gender Center Latino/a Programs and Services. Pre-registration is required. Contact: Deyanire Del Toro, ddeltoro@csufresno.edu.

Sept. 27: Self-Love As a Radical Act. The Cross Cultural and Gender Center Cross Cultural Programs and Services, will host an interactive activity from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Speaker’s Platform. Contact: Brenda Villalobos, ccgcstudentassist@mail.fresnostate.edu.

Sept. 28: International Coffee Hour, presented by Study Abroad/International Programs, 2 to 3 p.m. in Library 2206, featuring keynote speaker Gabriela Lamendi, who will speak about El Salvador. Contact: Marcela Magdaleno, marcela@csufresno.edu.

Sep. 30: Mi Cultura Cura: Ancestral Approaches for Physical and Spiritual Wellbeing Platica (Discussion), presented by Enseñamos En El Valle Central, 4 to 6 p.m. will feature the ways in which medicinal healing practices have evolved over time; beginning with our Indigenous ancestors to Westernized medicine. Virtual event. Pre-registration is required. Contact: Dr. Patricia Lopez, ensenamos@mail.fresnostate.edu.

Oct. 5: Maceta (Flower Pot) Painting Workshop, presented by The Cross Cultural and Gender Center Latino/a Programs and Services, is a program for students to reflect on the ways in which they pay tribute to their own spiritual healing practices, 1 to 2 p.m. in the Thomas Administration Building, Room 110. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. Contact: Lesly Beas, ccgclatino.a@mail.fresnostate.edu.

Oct. 5: International Coffee Hour, presented by Study Abroad/International Programs, 2 - 3 p.m. in Library 2206, featuring a discussion on Ecuador, Contact: Marcela Magdaleno, marcela@csufresno.edu.

Oct 6: Beyond the Hashtag Part 1. Join The Cross Cultural and Gender Center Latino/a Programs and Services in an interactive art installation from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 6 , 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 11, and 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 14, at the Speaker’s Platform where the Fresno State community will have an opportunity to share the ways in which they have been affected by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.). Contact: Deyanire Del Toro, ddeltoro@csufresno.edu.

Oct 7: Tatuados y Educados: Destigmatizing Tattoo Culture in Latinx Communities, presented by The Cross Cultural and Gender Center Latino/a Programs and Services is a program that will educate folks on the stigma around tattoo culture, how that stigma presents itself in Latinx communities, and how it transcends into higher education, 1 to 2:15 p.m. virtual event. Pre-registration is required.

Oct. 12: Beyond the Hashtag Part 2, presented by Chicano and Latin American Studies and the Cross Cultural and Gender Center Latino/a Programs and Services, a discussion featuring keynote speaker Dr. Luis Fernando Macias, on the impact of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) on communities of color, 4 to 5:15 p.m. at the Henry Madden Library, Room 2206. Open to the Fresno State Community only. Contact: Deyanire Del Toro, ddeltoro@csufresno.edu.

Oct. 15: Film Screening and Director Q&A: The Sower (El Sembrador), presented by CineCulture featuring director Melissa Elizondo. Time is to be determined. The screening and director Q&A will be virtual. Film links will be available five days prior to the director discussion date. Pre-registration for Q&A is required. Trailer: vimeo.com/567906323.

If you have any questions regarding the events above, contact Deyanire Del Toro at ddeltoro@csufresno.edu or visit the events website where you'll be able to find all updated information.