Sounds of traditional mariachi flooded LBCC’s campus during the Latinx heritage month kick-off event on Sept. 17, which included free food, live entertainment and various booths that encompassed Latinx culture.
The mariachi band was dressed in traditional attire which consisted of black fitted suits with intrinsic gold embroidery while playing the song, “Cielito Lindo,” which serves as a symbol of Mexican nationalism.
“It’s so great that we are having this beautiful Latino and Hispanic month. We are committed to serving our Hispanic students through these events and programs. Today let us celebrate our cultural togetherness,” Board of Trustees Vice President, Virginia Baxter said.
Rather than explaining the event as a way to celebrate cultural differences, she expressed the overall importance of celebrating and acknowledging the culture of others in order to form a stronger community.
“I initially came for an extra credit assignment for one of my classes, but now that I’m here, I’m also going to use it to better understand my culture,” LBCC student Melanie Moreno said.
Everyone seemed to have a different purpose for attending the event, but many students gathered in a line that stretched all the way to Carson Street for free birria de res.
“Pepe’s Red Tacos” hands out free birria tacos to attendees of Long Beach City College’s Latinx Heritage Month Kick-off held at LAC. Students lined up for yards to wait for their free tacos. (Alma Tamara)
Alongside the food truck were numerous booths there to support LBCC in the making of the kick-off, as well as gather volunteers for upcoming events based on their organization.
One of these booths represented the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) that is located in Long Beach.
The Visitor Services Associate Lead and Membership Manager, Jasmine Cramer was there to spread the news about the museum, new exhibits, along with volunteer opportunities with the organization.
“I feel like a lot of people, while they’re from Long Beach, they don’t visit the MOLAA, and I’m here to show them that the museum is available for them to check out and is accessible for everyone,” Cramer said.
The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and they offer free entry every Sunday.
“I want to show what we’re doing while also promoting cool events that help build communities and educational tools to help people learn more about their culture or other people’s culture. Overall enhancing the community,” said Cramer.
There was also the Latina’s Art Foundation, a non-profit organization that hosts art and dance classes in the Paramount school district.
Members of the Latinas Art Foundation sit at a booth set up in the Long Beach City College Liberal Arts Campus’ A-Quad for the Latinx Heritage Month Kick-off event. The foundation hosts beginner and advanced art classes in their studio to continue traditional Latino art forms like mariachi and folklorico dancing. (Alma Tamara)
Andrea Mercado is a member of the foundation who was helping run the booth, and this was the first time they ever attended the kick-off event at LBCC.
“We host a two-day event in Paramount to celebrate the Day of the Dead. We’re looking for volunteers and vendors. We normally have a big volume of people come by and provide traditional dancing, mariachi, and a closing ceremony,” Mercado said.
The kick-off event brought a small yet enthusiastic crowd to dance and celebrate alongside the mariachi and other performances.