SU Celebrates Latino Heritage Month in September and October

SALISBURY, MD---¡Estamos Celebrando! Salisbury University celebrates Latino Heritage Month with performances, films and lectures in September and October.

Events continue Tuesday, September 21, with a screening of award-winning director Cary Fukunaga’s 2009 film Sin Nombre at 7 p.m. in Fulton Hall Room 111. Making its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, the movie dramatizes the harrowing journey of young Hondurans as they seek a better life in the United States. In Spanish with English subtitles.

Representatives from the Maryland Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs join SU’s Business, Economic and Community Outreach Network’s Bienvenidos a Delmarva program for the discussion “Latino Access to Health Care on the Eastern Shore” from 3-5 p.m. Thursday, September 23, in the Montgomery Room of the Commons. Leading the discussion are Sonia Mora, M.P.H., manager of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services’ Latino health initiative; Lily Cubano of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; and Marcos Pesquera, executive director of the Adventist Health Care Center for Health Disparities.

On Saturday, September 25, SU sponsors a Latin American Cultural Immersion Day bus trip to Washington, D.C.  Sights include the Library of Congress’ Latin American exhibit “Exploring America,” the cultural center of the Mexican Embassy, and performances for “Celebrate Mexico 2010” at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  Tickets are $55 for SU students, $80 for faculty and staff, $110 for other community members, available at the Guerrieri University Center Information Desk.

University Dining Services offers a Hispanic Heritage dinner from 4:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, September 29, in the Commons.  Performing is Chile native Isabel Umanzor and her band.  Cost is $10.67 for adults, $6.48 for children (6-12), free for those 5 and under. A Latin dance lesson and salsa party begin 7 p.m. Thursday, September 30, in the Wicomico Room.

The 2010 film El Secreto De Sus Ojos, Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film, is shown 7 p.m. Thursday, October 14, in Henson Science Hall Room 103. It also won Best Spanish Language Foreign Film at Spain’s Goya Awards.

In honor of Latino Heritage Month and Constitution Day, U.S. Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez visits on Friday, October 15. Perez, who leads the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, speaks on “Civil Rights in 2010 and Beyond” at 2 p.m. in the Great Hall of Holloway Hall.

Events culminate on Sunday, October 17, with a performance by Ballet Folklorico “Quetzalli” de Veracruz at 7 p.m. in Holloway Hall Auditorium. One of Mexico’s leading folk music and dance troupes, the group is joined by award-winning Latin American folk musicians Grupo Tlen-Huicani.

SU’s Latino Heritage Month is held in conjunction with federally recognized Hispanic Heritage Month, which recognizes the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

The offices of the President, Diversity and Cultural Affairs; Latino Heritage Month Committee, Multicultural Student Services Office; World Artists Experiences, Inc.; University Dining Services; and Modern Languages Department sponsor the celebration. Admission is free unless otherwise noted, and the public is invited.

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.