Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month in South Jersey
By: Tania Qurashi
Every year, the United States observes National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of individuals with Latinx and Hispanic heritage including those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15 because it is the anniversary of the independence of Latin American countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Respectively, Mexico celebrates on the 16th, Chile on the 18th, and Belize on the 21st.
Today, we acknowledge pre-Columbian history and, the Indigenous and Afro-Latino identity of the Americas create a more inclusive approach to what it means to be Latin or Hispanic. Throughout the years, we are collectively understanding the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of the region.
South Jersey is proud to be a region that welcomes the Latinx and Hispanic communities with great organizations such as the Hispanic Association of Atlantic County based in Atlantic City that advocates to empower and advance the inclusion of Hispanics in all sectors of Atlantic County and the State of NJ while preserving its cultural heritage.
On September 23rd and 24th, the Hispanic Association of Atlantic County will present the Atlantic City Latino Festival, a free event that celebrates the food, music, and culture of Latin America at the Showboat Resort. Another South Jersey-based organization is the Hispanic Family Center of Southern New Jersey, which provides the community it serves with a broad range of culturally relevant social service and advocacy programs that promote and encourage empowerment and self-sufficiency.
The Hispanic Family Center is based in Camden County and Gloucester County and provides free family art classes that culminate in an exhibition of work completed by the residents of Gloucester County and the importance of Hispanic folklore and Latin American arts and culture.
We invite you to observe and celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month and check out some of these incredible organizations based in South Jersey!
To learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month, please refer to:
https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about.html
Some South Jersey organizations:
Hispanic Association of Atlantic County
Hispanic Family Center of Southern New Jersey
