Latin American Heritage Month is coming up and the Latin American Student Organization, Latin American studies and University Board will be teaming up to put on events for the students.

This year’s theme for Latino-Heritage is “We were, We are Latinos.”

Julia Abalos, LASO’s public relations coordinator, said students went to a conference in February and returned to school with a better perspective of their culture. She said the conference influenced the theme for the month.

“We incorporated stuff from theirs into ours,” Abalos said. “We wanted to emphasize that the main focus is about Latino people and we were so inspired from what we learned that we infused there theme with ours.”

Latin American Heritage month is typically celebrated from Sep. 15 to Oct. 15 through a series of events on campus.

Juanita Cross, a gateway academic advisor, said the celebration would kick off with the Latin Heritage Month Reception, which includes different foods and music. Cross said a new dish being served is Milanesa which is breaded round steak.

On Sep.15, both the kickoff reception and the Latin American Heritage Event will occur. Cross said she wanted to make the Latin-American event special so she reached out the department of music so percussionist could be playing while everyone eats.

Throughout the month Latin Dance Lessons are going to happen at the Recreation Center. Cross said the lessons are popular among students and include the Tango, Salsa, and Merengue.

“Beginners are welcomed it doesn’t matter, as long as you come to have fun. “ Cross said.

Along with dance lessons, a few movie presentations are a part of the heritage month.

“McFarland USA is a movie that LASO suggested, a lot of the members like the storyline and they thought it was a nice representation of what a Mexican family is like, “Cross said.

The movie presentations and dance lessons are both free.

In the month, the Office of Study Abroad are sponsoring a panel discussion, Sep. 22, about studying abroad in Latin America. Another event called “Latinos Take On The World” will be presented Sep. 29 and includes students on campus who are Latin American and have experience with studying overseas.

On Sep. 26 is when Latin Heritage Story time is being brought to children by students on campus. Students will read to the children in the community in Spanish. This event is sponsored by LASO.

Another event sponsored by LASO is “Walking Tacos” where students will be outside of Coleman Hall on Sep. 29 selling nachos and corn in the cup.

These events for the heritage month and more are making way to campus.

T’Nerra Butler can be reached at tabutler@eiu.edu or 581-2812