DeKALB – The Latino Resource Center will be sponsoring numerous events in light of Hispanic Heritage Month, the month-long holiday is observed in the United States to commemorate the history, contributions and culture of the Hispanic community.

These events start Sept. 13 and end Oct. 16 and will include events from an educational standpoint, such as lectures, a parade and guest speakers to more celebratory events such as anniversaries for Latin nations’ independence days.

To Yulissa Chavez-Tena, a graduate research assistant for the Latino Resource Center, bringing a piece of home to NIU is the reason she celebrates the holiday.

“We never really, growing up, celebrated a Hispanic Heritage Month, but more so we’re just involved in that and engulfed in that throughout growing up,” Chavez-Tena said. “It really wasn’t until I got to college, in which I attended a predominantly white institution, where I saw that sort of celebration and the need for it being away from it.”

Chavez-Tena said that another one of her reasons to celebrate is because of the pride she has in the Hispanic community and the struggles they have faced.

“It brings to the surface just the complexity of the history of the United States and knowing that to be Hispanic looks very different, depending on your own experience,” Chavez-Tena said.

Hispanic Heritage month isn’t just for hispanics though, the Latino Resource Center is encouraging all Huskies to come to events and ring in the month-long holiday.

Monica Maravilla, a graduate research assistant for the Latino Resource Center, said that anyone at NIU can benefit from partaking in Hispanic Heritage Month.

“The community is becoming more diverse,” Maravilla said. “From what I’ve noticed, I think it’s a way that people can also understand who their neighbors are and who their friends are.”

At NIU, the Latino Resource Center will be celebrating this holiday by sponsoring the following free events:

• Latino Heritage Month Opening Parade, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 13 at the MLK Commons
• El Grito, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sept 13. at the Latino Center
• Eight Countries in One Day: Colombia, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 16 at the DeKalb Public Library
• Sounds like Brazil! With Chicago Samba, noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 18 at the MLK Commons
• “Making the MexiRican City: a Mexican and Puerto Rican Migration,” 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 19 (Virtual Event)
• Sounds like Colombia! noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 20 at the MLK Commons
• A Day Trip – The Latinx Experience, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 23
• Una Casita Para Matita, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Latino Center
• Meet and Greet with Christopher Rivas, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Latino Center
• Brown Enough with Christopher Rivas 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Carl Sandburg Auditorium in the Holmes Student Center
• Piñata DIY, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 27 at Wirtz Hall, Room 103A
• Lotería Game Night, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Latino Center
• Sounds like Puerto Rico! noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 2 at the MLK Commons
• Santería in Cuba – Guest Speaker: Jean-Christophe Leroy, noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Regency Room in the Holmes Student Center
• First Friday DeKalb, Oct. 6 in downtown DeKalb
• Vejigantes, from Puerto Rico to NIU with Lorimar Matos, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Latino Center
• Latinx Trivia Night! 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Latino Center 
• SHPENIC, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Latino Center
• Adela de la Torre Latino Honor Society Induction Ceremony, noon Oct. 15 at the Carl Sandburg Auditorium in the Holmes Student Center
• Noche De Gala, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Regency Room in the Holmes Student Center

To learn more about these events, check the Latino Resource Center website.