Cal State San Bernardino will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a full schedule of events and activities that showcase the richness of its diverse university community. The celebration runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and highlights Hispanic and Latinx culture through food, music, art, scholarship and community gatherings.

The objective of Hispanic Heritage Month is to provide the CSUSB community with opportunities to explore and engage with Hispanic and Latinx traditions, histories and contemporary voices.

Opening Event

  • ALFSS Bienvenida – Hispanic Heritage Month Opening Ceremony, Sept. 16, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., Santos Manuel Student Union South Event Center. An annual welcome event featuring music, food and community.

Events & Activities Throughout the Month

  • Book Giveaway: “How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents,” Sept. 15, noon-1 p.m., CSUSB’s John M. Pfau Library and the Palm Desert Campus Library. Free copies of Julia Alvarez’s acclaimed novel available while supplies last.
  • Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, Sept. 16, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Santos Manuel Student Union (SMSU) North Pub. A festive campus celebration with food, mariachi and community spirit.
  • Nuestro Orgullo: Juntos en Artivismo, Sept. 16, 3-5 p.m., SMSU North Pub Garden. An afternoon of cultural pride and activism through art, hosted by the Queer and Transgender Resource Center.
  • Mini Piñata Making, Sept. 16, noon-2 p.m., The Retreat, SMSU South. Students can design their own mini piñatas in this hands-on creative activity.
  • Hispanic Heritage Month Book Display, Sept. 16-20, John M. Pfau Library. A curated book display highlighting works by Hispanic and Latinx authors.
  • Somos CSUSB, Sept. 18, 4-7 p.m., SMSU North Patio. An outdoor celebration with food, music and connection.
  • Film Screening: “In the Heights,” Sept. 18, 7-9 p.m., SMSU Theater. A showing of the hit musical film celebrating Latinx culture.
  • Movie Night: “Encanto,” Sept. 20, 5-7 p.m., Rancho Mirage Student Center Multipurpose Room, Palm Desert Campus. A family-friendly screening of Disney’s animated movie.
  • Poetry Workshop with Jose Hernandez Diaz, Sept. 23, 1-2:15 p.m., SMSU North 111. A hands-on writing session with a celebrated Latinx poet.
  • Book Talk with Natalia Molina, Sept. 25, noon-1:15 p.m., John M. Pfau Library, PL-4005. Molina, professor at USC, will discuss her award-winning book, “A Place at the Nayarit: How a Mexican Restaurant Nourished a Community.”
  • Latino Education and Advocacy Days (LEAD) Summit XIV, Sept. 26, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., SMSU South. The annual summit explores “Hispanic Serving Institutions: Past, Present, Future” through panels and keynote speakers.
  • Noche de Estrellas Talent Show, Oct. 3, 6–9 p.m., SMSU Events Center. A showcase of student talent, music and performance.
  • Poetic Rhythms of Latinx Identities with Lucas Rivera, Oct. 7, noon-2 p.m., Center for Global Innovation Patio. A multimedia performance blending music, poetry and narrative storytelling.
  • ¡Buenas! It’s Lotería Time!, Oct. 8, noon-1 p.m., Rancho Mirage Student Center, Palm Desert Campus. A lively game of Lotería with cultural history and community fun.

Closing Event

  • Hispanic Heritage Month Closing Reception, Oct. 10, 3-5 p.m., SMSU North 111. A community gathering to reflect on and celebrate the month’s activities.

Initially celebrated as Hispanic Heritage Week, it was first established in 1968 by legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Edward R. Roybal and signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson. In 1988, the celebration was expanded to a 30-day period by legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Esteban Torres and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. Sept. 15 was chosen as the start date because it marks the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize celebrate their independence days shortly thereafter, on Sept. 16, Sept. 18 and Sept. 21, respectively.

For more information and updates, visit the JEDI Community & Cultural Centers at CSUSB Instagram account.