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CSUMB celebrates HSI Week and Hispanic Heritage Month

This year’s events were generated from student feedback, committee discussions, and suggestions from various campus groups.

HSI Week
Students engage in making Hispanic-inspired crafts during HSI Week in 2023. | Photo by Brent Dundore-Arias.

A combination of HSI Week – recognizing Hispanic Serving Institutions – and Hispanic Heritage Month events begins on Tuesday, Sept. 10, and runs through Saturday, Sept. 21, at Cal State Monterey Bay. The schedule includes activities, presentations and festive celebrations.

CSUMB President Vanya Quiñones said the occasion is an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the role Hispanic people play in education and in our communities. 

"I moved into teaching and leadership roles because I wanted to help the next generation of students like me see that they also deserve a space in the lab, in the classroom and at universities," Quiñones said. "I wanted to be that voice for Latinae and other underrepresented students, telling them 'si se puede' and that they can dream big and that they will have a great impact on the world. I chose to come to Cal State Monterey for that opportunity to work at a Hispanic serving institution, and to be in a place where we celebrate our diversity and contributions."

Valarie Maestas-Chapel is director of Project Rebound and METAS grant coordinator. She said this year’s events were generated from student feedback, committee discussions and suggestions from various campus groups. 

Keynote speaker, Cati de los Rio of UC Berkeley, was chosen on the basis of two surveys that found students wanted more services addressing language as it relates to culture. De los Rio will speak at 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, on cultural expressivity and the critical translingual literacy of bilingual families and children who are important consumers, readers, orators, writers and performers of Mexican regional music. 

“She looks at how all these different aspects of cultural expressivity come into this educational space and the issues around language Identity and culture,” said Maestas-Chapel.

Arts and crafts activities are scheduled throughout the celebration. Highlights include a guided painting experience with Salinas-based artist Ignacio “Nacho” Moya, at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18. Moya will share his own story of becoming an artist before helping participants create their own creative works. At 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, the Makerspace in the Tanimura & Antle Family Memorial Library will host a Frida Kahlo paint night. 

“Based on student engagement, art activities tend to do very well,” Maestas-Chapel said. “It helps with the mental health aspect. There is always so much emphasis on academics, it’s good for the students to use the other part of their brains.”

Dance: La Gozadera!, a social event inviting students to express themselves on the dance floor, is scheduled from 8-11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20. It is a new element this year that came from student feedback, she said. 

Recognizing the Hispanic culture during September plays an important role, Maestas-Chapel said. 

“It helps ensure that cultural identity isn’t lost as students grow and define themselves,” she said. 

The celebration ends with a midday family festival on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the main quad where several hundred people are expected to enjoy food, music and games.

For more information, go to the HSI Week 2024 webpage.