Sept. 15 marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is being celebrated throughout the Boston College community for the first time this year. BC's Organization of Latin American Affairs (OLAA) was influential in bringing this celebration to campus. "The Hispanic Heritage Committee [a subdivision within OLAA] did a lot of work throughout the end of last semester and the summer to get as much support for the month as we could," said Bryan Leyva, founder and co-chair of the committee and A&S '10. "This support went from monetary support, to publicizing the events throughout the month, to organizing professors from different departments to highly suggest many of the events to their classes."
Geogre Hart, OLAA president and A&S '11, said the ultimate purpose is to inform people on what the Latino club has to offer. "Our mission is to inform and celebrate Latino cultures with anyone in the BC community no matter what their background," Hart said. "Our mission is not to alienate ourselves from the BC community, but to bridge the gaps that exist through understanding and celebration." Hart said that this year, the organization's main goals are to increase their political and social action, specifically through participation in volunteer-based activities. "The group is trying to communicate tolerance, appreciation of diversity and one another, and understanding of the many unique cultures within the Latino umbrella," Leyva said.
One of OLAA's initiatives for the year has involved working hand-in-hand with the American Breast Cancer Society. The organization has been actively involved in fundraising, and has nearly met its goal of $2,000. OLAA is also in the process of organizing a group to walk along the Charles River in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. The event will be taking place this coming Sunday.
Throughout the month there are a number of different events being organized to celebrate the Latino culture. Leyva said he encourages the BC community to become involved. "Go to the events," he said. "It's a great inaugural month and the committee has put in tons of work to make it a success, but it is only as much of a success as the amount of students and faculty that attend." Some highlights for the month include Latino speakers lecturing on everything from gender and sexuality to corporate America, and a candlelight vigil in the Quad on Oct. 13.
A series of art exhibitions will also be a part of the month's activities. The month-long celebration will end on the evening of Oct. 16 with a dinner and performance by the BC bOp! Jazz Ensemble. As part of the closing ceremony, the Office of Student Affairs along with the Office of AHANA Student Programming (OASP) and the Hispanic Heritage Committee will be organizing the First Annual Latin Soul Arts Festival. This event will host speakers, live music, and Latino artists. "Hispanic Heritage month is a celebration and meditation on the various contributions of Latinos in the United States," Hart said. "It is a month where my cultural background is celebrated and my heritage is honored. To see how Boston College has embraced the month and celebrated with me makes me extremely happy and proud to be a Boston College student." Leyva also commented on the event. "The celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month means the world to me," he said. "It brings my Boston College experience full circle. It is the realization of my dream at Boston College; a dream that I never thought would come true."
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