Subscribe to Pittwire Today
Get the most interesting and important stories from the ϳԹ of ϳԹ.National Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration that honors the culture, contributions and history ofAmericans whose heritage can be traced back to more than 20 Latin American countries, including those in Central and South America and the Caribbean.
In 2018, Gina Garcia brought that celebration to the ϳԹ of ϳԹ. The associate professor in Pitt’s School of Education and expert on Hispanic Serving Institutions chaired an institution-wide committee to launch the first Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month (LHHM).In addition to on-campus events, the ϳԹ partnered this year with ϳԹ organizations, including the Latin American Cultural Center, ϳԹ Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, ϳԹ Opera and Carnegie Mellon ϳԹ. .
Below you’ll find local resources you should know if you’re Hispanic yourself or just interested in learning more about the people, culture and countries that fit under the umbrella.
ϳԹ resources and information
These seven student-led cultural organizations foster diversity on Pitt’s campus and provide a safe space for different Latinx and Hispanic-identifying communities and supporters to celebrate their cultural richness through activities, including festivals, parties, film showings and more:
Brazil Nuts Portuguese Club
’goal is to expose students to Brazilian culture and the Portuguese language and practice their Portuguese outside of the classroom.
Caribbean and Latin American Student Organization
ճpromotes intellectual and cultural exchanges through various activities from the Caribbean and Latin America.
Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence
ʾٳ'encourages immigrant entrepreneurship through free international trade and Spanish language business consulting with a dedicated expert and programming to assist small business owners with gaining access to new markets to sell into or purchase from. Questions? Reach out to Brent Rondon atbrondon [at] innovation.pitt.edu.
[Read about how the SBDC supports Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs.]
Latin American Graduate Organization of Students
ճ (LAGOS)is for Latin American, Latino/a, Hispanic, Afro-Latino/a graduate and professional students.
Latino Medical Student Association
empowers students through service, mentorship and education to advocate for the health of the Latino community.
Latinx Student Association
The mission of ʾٳ’sLatinx Student Associationis to motivate, educate, advocate and celebrate.
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
changes lives by empowering the Hispanic community through STEM awareness, access, support and development.
Spanish Club
ʾٳ’spromotes the practice of speaking Spanish.
Other Pitt events, organizations and resources
Hispanic Latino Professional Affinity Group
This provides faculty and staff with resources that promote community building, mentorship and professional development.
Center for Latin American Studies
ճpromotes global understanding of Latin America, the Caribbean and their diversediasporiccommunities through programs and initiatives for students and faculty that range in topic from preserving the Amazon rainforests to public policy reform.
Eduardo Lozano Latin American Collection
This supports the campus community and serves as a regional, national and international resource center and clearinghouse for information on Latin America.
Hispanic Languages and Literature Department
This Pitt department is about forming connections through language and offers undergraduate and graduate programs. It’s also home to the, the “oldest and most extensive academic organization dedicated to the study and promotion of research in Latin American literature.”
Latinx Connect Conference
Each March, this invites students, educators, community leaders and political advocates to envision ways to empower and support thriving futures for diverse Latinx communities at local, national and global levels through dialogue.
What do we call ourselves? Pitt experts and community members weigh in:
Resources beyond Pitt
Members of the Pitt community and ϳԹ’s LHHM planning committee shared the following list of organizations in the area dedicated to partnering with and supporting Latinx and Hispanic communities.
Casa San Jose
ճoffers transportation, interpretation, case management and other services to immigrant youth and families..
ϳԹ Hispanic Development Corporation
and improving the lives of Hispanics in the ϳԹ metropolitan area and region for nearly a decade. Regional initiatives include fostering investment in and supporting existing and new Hispanic businesses.
National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures
by increasing their regional visibility through cross-cultural collaborations including fundraising, leadership training research and advocacy that’s designed to revitalize and stabilize the U.S. Latin cultural and arts sector.
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement
and offers yearround youth leadership development opportunities.
ϳԹ Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
for the Hispanic business community’s civic and economic interests and provides regional business opportunities for economic development.
Vibrant Outreach
This group is committed to retaining diverse talent in ϳԹ. ճworks with employers to target and recruit talent nationwide and address issues of diversity and inclusion within work environments.
Welcome Center for Immigrants and Internationals
in relocating to and thriving in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Latino Community Center
ճempowers, advocates for and celebrates Latinx folks in Allegheny County.
Latin American Cultural Center and Museum
LACC is a Latin American Studies Association initiativeand home to a museum, auditorium and other programming spaces designed for events that commemorate Latin American arts, history and cultures. The first exhibit, “,”opened to the public on Sept. 20.
Photography by Aimee Obidzinski