Latiné Heritage Month celebrated at SUNY Cortland through Oct. 15

09/22/2026

SUNY Cortland is inviting campus community members to join in the celebration of Latiné Heritage Month with educational, cultural and social events taking place through Oct. 15.

The recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month officially began in 1968 when an annual week of observance was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson. That was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover 30 days from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15

The day of Sept. 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

A lecture on "Understanding Latiné Heritage Month" kicked off activities on campus on Sept. 16. Upcoming events include:

Afro-Latino Hair Care Night

Thursday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m.

Van Hoesen Hall, Room B112 (new Voice Office location)

Hosted by the Caribbean Student Association, Women of Color, Spanish Club and Curly Kinky Coily this talk considers the history of women's representation of Afro hair in the Caribbean and Latin America. Participants can learn tips and tricks about how to maintain hair in different climates.

Unpacking Assumptions: Recognizing and Responding to Microaggressions Impacting Latiné Communities

Friday, Oct. 2, from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Corey Union Fireplace Lounge

Facilitated by Chief Diversity Officer Renee Wells, this 90-minute workshop will explore the most common microaggressions experienced by members of the Latiné communities. It aims to help participants understand the assumptions underlying these micro aggressions, their impact and different response strategies.

Copa Mundial Soccer Tournament

Friday, Oct. 2, at 4 p.m.

Student Life Center

This social event is hosted by La Familia Latina and Men of Value and Excellence.

Dominoes Tournament

Thursday, Oct. 8, at 6 p.m.

Van Hoesen Hall, Room B112 (new Voice Office location)

Hosted by La Familia Latina and the Caribbean Student Association, this event offers the opportunity to play the internationally popular tile-based game.

Nuestra Cultura

Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.

Dowd Fine Arts Center, Room 110

Sponsored by the Performing Arts Department, this event celebrates Latin heritage through song and dance.

More Than One Language: Latiné Identities, Translation and Belonging in Latin America

Thursday, Oct. 14, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Taking place online through Microsoft Teams

Register online

Facilitated by bilingual language educator Wesley Henrique Prates and sponsored by the Literacy Department, this interactive workshop celebrates the linguistic and cultural diversity of Latin America while exploring how language shapes identity, belonging and participation.

Participants will consider the relationship among the terms Latiné, Hispanic, Latino/a and Latin American; encounter Portuguese, Spanish, Indigenous and Creole linguistic and cultural examples; and engage with brief literacy excerpts and translation activities. The program is designed for a general campus audience and requires no prior knowledge of Portuguese or Spanish.

Sandwich Seminar: Beyond the Monolith: Resilience, Race and Myth of "The Latinx Student"

Thursday, Oct. 15, from noon to 1 p.m.

Old Main Colloquium, Room 220

Sponsored by the Multicultural Life and Diversity Office and the university's Latino and Latin American Studies program, this research-informed presentation will be delivered by Tibisay Hernandez, who serves as chief equity officer for the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. The talk will focus on what can be misinterpreted as disengagement - and what is required to support Latinx and Afro-Latinx students.

Raices y Ritmo

Friday, Oct. 23, from 5 to 11 p.m.

Corey Union Exhibition Lounge

This social event is hosted by La Familia Latina, the Caribbean Student Association and Ritmo Latino.

For more information about the university's Latiné Heritage Month events, contact AnnaMaria Omilanowicz, director of multicultural life and diversity, or Jose Ortiz, assistant professor of foundations and social advocacy.