Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from Sunday, Sep. 15 to Tuesday, Oct. 15. Alianza, Lawrence’s Hispanic- and Latinx-facing organization, is spearheading the month’s celebrations on campus.
“We primarily focus on providing a safe space for Hispanic and Latinx students,” Alianza president senior Lizeth Mendoza said. “We have conversations talking about what it looks like to be Hispanic on campus, how we’re feeling. We try to bring forward the community, have them get to know one another — especially because we are in a primarily white institution.”
Mendoza described struggling with the transition of coming to Lawrence from a predominantly Hispanic city, saying that she felt as though no one around her looked like her. She described how Alianza helped her meet a lot of her friends and provided a community where she was able to meet other people of the same background.
“I do think that representation is important. Even growing up, I didn’t really see myself as who I am in other people’s positions, especially in higher positions,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza describes Hispanic Heritage Month as a chance for Hispanic and Latinx people to promote visibility and to show others what their culture looks like. For Hispanic Heritage Month this year, Alianza will be hosting an event the week of Oct. 13–19, where they will provide catered Latinx food along with a game night and music. Alianza is also looking forward to celebrating Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) shortly after Hispanic Heritage Month. Día de los Muertos is traditionally celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2 and is a holiday centered around honoring those who have passed away.
The word “heritage” derives from Latin and Old French, “that which may be inherited.” Inherited heirlooms, traditions and stories are all representative of individual heritages. Alianza strives to make Hispanic and Latinx students feel like their heritage is represented in the Lawrence community; Mendoza describes how it can be difficult to be away from home and in a primarily white institution as a Hispanic/Latinx person and how she hopes that students will see a small part of home in Alianza’s events.
“For students that don’t identify as Hispanic or Latinx, we want them to get to know our culture and our traditions,” Mendoza said. “It’s good to expose yourself to other cultures and learn more about other communities. A lot of us sometimes tend to just be so stuck in our own bubble that we don’t look at other cultures as much as we should.”
Mendoza encourages those that are interested in learning more about the event for Hispanic Heritage Month to check the Alianza Instagram page (@lu_alianza), where they will be providing updated information on the Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations as well as future Alianza events.