The LAC A quad was packed Sept. 15. for a Latinx Heritage Month Kick Off Celebration complete with food, musical performances, and activities.
Bright white tents, papel picado, and celebratory Spanish music greeted LBCC students on campus as they walked to class that afternoon.
The celebration, organized by several students and faculty, included stands with clubs and organizations running the length of the quad, as well as a variety of student resources for those in attendance.
Itzel Marin, member of the Social Justice Intercultural Center ran a booth where attendees could draw or collage their own Loteria card, “inspired by anything they’d like,” she said.
Other booths offered goodies and freebies, including sweet bread and other Latin sweets, as well as lanyards and pins.
Attendees could be seen enjoying a performance by traditional folk dancers in front of LAC’s A building, stunning the crowd with their vibrant regalia and entrancing rhythm.
Concheros, as they are called, dance at celebratory events, always accompanied by energetic music iconic for its magnetic drum tempo, sound of bells shaking as dancers spin to the beat, and conch shell horn blown by one of the performers.
“It’s definitely lively,” commented Michael Eneyew, a volunteer at the event.
Halfway through the event, free pupusas were announced, and a mad dash for the Pupusa booth began. Students and faculty alike were witnessed waiting in line for a meal, with the line snaking around itself due to sheer numbers. Unfortunately supplies ran out before the whole line could be fed, leaving a few attendees disappointedly without food.
This kick-off celebration came on the heels of an important milestone in LBCC history, when in a Sept. 14th Board of Trustees meeting, board members voted to officially recognize National Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month for the first time.
Apart from marking the official beginning of Latinx Heritage Month, Sept. 15 also vitally marks the official day of independence for several Latin American countries, making the day doubly important for those who celebrate.
LBCC will be hosting more Latinx heritage events throughout the month.