Latinx/ e Heritage Month Kick Off: Cuban Dancers and Food

Kathryn Elaine Jeffery, president of Santa Monica College (SMC), gives an opening speech at the Latinx/e heritage month kick-off event on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2024, at SMC North and South of the Quad, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Mary Funsten | The Corsair)

Yamila Guerra, Cuban singer, dancer, and actress, teaches participants cuban dance moves at the Latinx/e heritage month kick-off event on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, at the Santa Monica College Quad in the North and South side, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Mary Funsten | The Corsair)

Yamila Guerra, Cuban singer, dancer, and actress, teaches participants cuban dance moves at the Latinx/e heritage month kick-off event on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, at the Santa Monica College Quad in the North and South side, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Mary Funsten | The Corsair)

Yamila Guerra, Cuban singer, dancer, and actress, encourages students and faculty to sing and dance at the Latinx/e heritage month kick-off event on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, at the Santa Monica College Quad in the North and South side, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Mary Funsten | The Corsair)

Students dance at the performance by Yamila Guerra, Cuban singer, dancer, and actress, at the Latinx/e heritage month kick-off event on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, at the Santa Monica College Quad in the North and South side, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Mary Funsten | The Corsair)

Student's cheer on a fellow student after she participated in the cuban dance performance by Yamila Guerra, cuban singer, dancer, and actress, at the Latinx/e heritage month kick-off event on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, at the Santa Monica College Quad in the North and South side, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Mary Funsten | The Corsair)

Hispanic Heritage Month has officially kicked off this week! On September 19, 2024, Santa Monica College (SMC) celebrated this special month by honoring contributions, achievements, and culture with Cuban dancers and traditional Cuban cuisine.

If you couldn’t catch this special occasion there is no need to worry, the Hispanic Heritage events at the Main SMC Campus go from September 15 through October 15. These various events include workshops with Latino Artists, Film Screenings, and Traditional Indigenous Celebrations. If you are interested in learning more about these or want to see which event is more flexible to attend, click here.

Yeimi Alonso, an SMC Student, said, “Hispanic Heritage Month is a month that helps spread awareness on current political issues surrounding Hispanics/ Latinos or first-generation students, I think it is very important, one because it highlights struggles or a place where you can openly share, you can do it all the time but I think it's a time where you see people post more about struggles surrounding Hispanic Heritage, it’s like a lot of awareness is being spread.”

Kathryn E. Jeffrey, President and Superintendent of Santa Monica College also spoke about the importance of this month; “I think this particular program today is represented by a formed population of our students, not only in terms of the college but the whole State of California. We know that historically our land was populated differently hundreds of years ago, this particular celebration helps us remember many of the individuals who were part of establishing communities, and raising families in this area even before the college came to be here”.

The Month of Hispanic Heritage is filled with music, traditional dishes, and important history, yet also a time we highlight the crucial happenings around Latin America where violence, discrimination, and protests for justice take place.

Social media  also plays a huge part this month with dedicated posts and Hispanic influencers and celebrities participate in features where they use their platform to spread awareness. Especially in these times where social media is one of the main platforms to get information where it’s important to put out content to educate everyone.