Hispanic Heritage Month: Fiesta/Baile, Immigration Simulation

Hispanic Awareness Month promotes respect and understanding for people from different cultures. The Alma College Hispanic Coalition will observe Hispanic Heritage Month with activities that promote respect and understanding for people from different cultures and reinforce connections between students and community members.

Family-friendly activities include the annual Fiesta/Baile, a weekly Spanish story time for children, a Columbus Day lecture by a visiting scholar, and the 5K “Race to Remember.” Alma College students will be offered Hispanic meals in Hamilton Commons.

Alma College Hispanic Heritage Month Events 2017
National Theme: “Shaping the Bright Future of America”

Saturdays Sept. 9-Nov. 18/The Alma Public Library hosts a weekly Bilingual Spanish Story Time at 11 a.m. Saturdays beginning Sept. 9 and continuing through Nov. 18. Participation is free and open to the public. The story time is sponsored by the Alma Public Library, the Alma College Hispanic Coalition and the Alma College Modern Languages Department.

Sept. 12/Dance instructor Rosely Conz offers Samba dance lessons from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12 in the Stone Recreation Center Multipurpose Room at Alma College. Admission is free; all are welcome.

Students participate in the Hispanic Awareness Information Fair in 2016.Sept. 15/The Alma College Hispanic Coalition, Diversity and Inclusion Office and Modern Languages Department sponsor the annual Hispanic Heritage Month Fiesta/Baile on Friday, Sept. 15 from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Tyler-Van Dusen Campus Center. The celebration includes live mariachi music (6-7 p.m.), Hispanic-inspired foods (6 to 7 p.m.), dance lessons (7-8 p.m.) and dancing (8-10 p.m.). Although admission is free, monetary donations are accepted as well as toiletries, school supplies and winter-wear. Proceeds support these drives as well as the Hispanic Coalition Scholarship Fund.

Sept. 26/The Alma College Modern Languages Department in collaboration with the Mid-Michigan Migrant Resource Council sponsors an immigration simulation from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Sept. 26 in the Tyler-Van Dusen Campus Center at Alma College. Admission is free and open to the public. Other sponsors for this event include the Diversity and Inclusion Office, Health Administration Professional Development Organization, Hispanic Coalition, Multicultural Student Union, Women’s and Gender Studies and the Women’s Issues Advisory Board.

Oct. 10/Author and scholar Lu Ann Homza, professor of history at the College of William and Mary, presents “Child Witches in Early Modern Spain: Implications for Law and Society” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10 in Swanson Academic Center Room 113. Admission is free and open to the public.

Nov. 5/The Alma College Hispanic Coalition, Diversity and Inclusion Office and Modern Languages Department invite participants to the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) “Race to Remember” 5K Walk/Run and Kids’ Fun Run, Sunday, Nov. 5, on the Alma College campus. The Mexican holiday Day of the Dead celebrates life through remembering those who have passed; runners and walkers are invited to run in memory of loved ones. Packet pick-up and race registration takes place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Alma Public Library.

Story published on September 05, 2017