Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Sep. 15 - Oct. 15The beginning of October marks the midway point of National Hispanic Heritage Month (NHHM), an event celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The month long period encompasses the independence day celebrations of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Chile. Here are three ways you can celebrate and put Edgewood's value of Community into practice:

  1. Get informed. If you haven't heard of it before or could use a refresher, now is a perfect time to educate yourself on the history of NHHM and the mixed emotions surrounding it. You can also revisit the history of the terms Hispanic, Latino, and Latinx.
  2. Get well-read. The library has hundreds of books by Hispanic and Latinx writers--novels, poetry, and nonfiction, well-known and obscure. We've compiled a list of three iconic favorites and three fantastic contemporary works to start with, but you don't have to stop there. Ask a librarian if you'd like further recommendations!
  3. Get involved. Show up for the Madison Latinx community by attending the Herencia Hispana / Hispanic Heritage Luncheon at Monona Terrace or visiting the Latino Art Fair at the Overture Center later this month. 

Most importantly, don't stop once NHHM ends on October 15th! There are so many ways to be involved year-round, such as getting connected with a local non-profit like Centro Hispano. Or, look within the Edgewood College community for opportunities--Wingra Weekly/EC Today and the Events section of the Diversity & Inclusion homepage are good places to start!

Elizabeth Tappy
Librarian, Reference & Instruction Coordinator