Live music, free food and representatives from multiple organizations around campus, including ASI Beach Pride Events and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, hosted a celebration honoring Latinx Heritage Month on Wednesday, Sept. 8.
Latinx Heritage Month takes place from Wednesday, Sept. 15 through Friday, Oct. 15 where Latinx culture from all 20 Latin American countries is celebrated through similar events.
During the kick-off event there were many organizations in attendance supporting the Latinx community and creating bonds with other attendees.
One speaker in particular, Jeana Vijil-Young, a senior at CSULB, connected with the audience with her story.
Vijil-Young spoke about her experience growing up as a Latina woman with a Nicaraguan and Honduran mother who had immigrated to the U.S. to provide her children with educational opportunities.
“When my mom and I would go shopping for my shoes at JCPenny, everyone would assume she was my nanny,” Vijil-Young said. “Growing up in a predominantly white Catholic school, I was made fun of for speaking Spanish and having my favorite food be gallo pinto. It made me grow up being ashamed of who I am and everything my mom had sacrificed to provide for me.”
However, after learning more about her culture and meeting her family members in Nicaragua and Honduras, she began to accept herself and her vibrant culture.
“Even though I didn’t fit into the traditional ‘Latina’ image, I was not going to let myself be bound by society,” she said. “I am a proud Latina woman, and I invite you all to join in the celebration of Latinx heritage month, and extend it past this one month given to us. This celebration isn’t just celebrated and confined to one month, but to a year long celebration of culture.”
CSULB will be hosting informational workshops, community building workshops, entrepreneurship lessons, and more throughout the duration of Latinx Heritage Month so that students can continue learning about the Latinx culture.
For more information about the upcoming Latinx Heritage Month events, visit https://www.asicsulb.org/corporate/.