University News

WIU President Guiyou Huang: LatinX Heritage Month

September 13, 2022

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Dear University Community,

Beginning this Thursday (September 15) through October 15, Western Illinois University proudly recognizes and celebrates National LatinX Heritage Month, which was expanded from a week in September to a full month 34 years ago. It is an honor to share, and learn more about, LatinX history and culture.

Western's first Latin student organization, the Latin American Student Organization, was formed in the 1970s, and is an active student organization years later. It was because of their advocacy that the first Casa Latina Cultural Center was established almost 50 years ago on WIU's Macomb campus. In addition, our WIU-Quad Cities students, faculty, staff, and alumni are active volunteers and participants in the Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce events, Mercado on Fifth, and other QC-based LatinX programs, events, and activities.

Casa Latina and our student organizations will sponsor numerous activities this month at our Multicultural Center, including the delicious "Bring Your Own Tortilla" event from noon-2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15 on the MCC lawn, practice your Spanish speaking skills at Café y Hablamos from 2-3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 in the Casa Latina Lounge in the MCC, and take part in Power to the Pueblo beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12 in the MCC. The complete list of activities throughout the month, and more, is available at wiu.edu/news. At our WIU-QC campus, our students and others will participate in the League of United Latin American Citizens Parade & Fiesta Sunday, Sept. 18, and there will be cultural displays set up on campus throughout the month. I look forward to seeing many of you at these terrific programs.

Our diverse student body, along with our faculty and staff, brings so much to our University and our communities. Thank you to Casa Latina Cultural Center, the Multicultural Center, and our student organizations for all that you do for our campus and our communities.

Best wishes,

Guiyou Huang
President
Western Illinois University


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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