Latino Heritage Month

Be part of the festivities!

Explore LA: Placita Olvera

Sept 24, 12:30pm, Carpools meet at Fluor Fountain

Latino Heritage dinner at the Caf

Sept 28, 5-7pm

Cocina Latina

Oct 7, 1-3pm, Sycamore Lawn (next to Calvary Chapel).

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Today Hispanics make up 48% of the Los Angeles County population, 39% of the California population, and 18% of the U.S. population.

The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15.

The date of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively, and Columbus Day, or Día de la Raza, is October 12.