The Los Medanos College community is made up of a diverse group of students, faculty and staff. So, in effort to celebrate and recognize a part of it, Latinx Heritage Month will take place starting Sept. 15.

The Student Life, office LMCAS, Puente, Equity and Inclusion, La Raza Club, Society for Advancement of Chicano/Hispanic and Native Americans in science (SACNAS) and MESA, are all sponsors of the celebrations throughout the month.

The “Flavor of Latin America” club day event will kickoff the festivities Sept. 19 in the Outdoor Quad from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Students are invited to attend club day to see if any of the many clubs fit their interests — especially one’s like La Raza, a Latinx based club that focuses on the culture.

Director of Student Life and the International Students Program, Teresea Archaga, helped bring the month and events to life with other colleagues, explaining that they’ve been “working toward [Latinx Heritage Month] since last semester,” and it being the first time they’ve come together to have something like this.

A Latin America themed Music and Art Festival will be held Sept. 21 in the Outdoor Quad from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Students will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities such as dance lessons, arts and crafts and as open mic where anyone is encouraged to go up and speak their mind. For those wanting to stop by and enjoy the show, they will also find a taco truck in the midst of the event available to all.

Maya Cinemas will be showing the Dolores Huerta documentary Sept.26 starting at 5 p.m. — the viewing it free to those who pick up a ticket at the Office of Student Life. There will be another free film screening Sept. 27 of MacFarland USA, from 8 to 10 p.m. in the outdoor quad — or L-109 if it happens to rain.

The annual Impact Conference will be held Oct. 6 in Library room L-109 from 9 am to 3 p.m.

“Because of the success of last year we wanted to do it again,” Archaga said about the event being focused on student activism as it was last year.

A Columbus Day conversation that will focus on Columbus’ impact on the Latin community, will be held by LMC History Professor Josh Bearden and will take place Oct. 9 in L-109 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

To close out the Latinx Heritage month events, there will be a game of Loteria — similar to bingo — Oct. 11 in L-109 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Prizes for the winners and a Ballet Folklorico performance by dancers from Pittsburg High School at 8 p.m.

For more information about Latinx Heritage Month, stop by the Student Life office or contact Teresa Archaga at [email protected].