New York Tech Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Pictured: At the 16th Annual Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE), interior design student Karla A. Pérez (not pictured) presented a series of drawings and traditional Mexican dances with her dance troupe Manhatitlan with the goal of changing the way Mexicans and Mexican-Americans are portrayed in mainstream culture.

Hispanic Heritage Month began as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Twenty year later, the week-long celebration was extended to cover a 30-day period—from September 15 through October 15, and was enacted into law under President Ronald Reagan on August 17, 1988.

New York Institute of Technology celebrates the Hispanic members of our community who are doing great things in their academic and professional careers as well as cultural communities. While we can’t come together to celebrate our peers in person, New York Tech has organized several virtual events to recognize the month-long celebration.

Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month Kickoff
September 16, Instagram, @nytechtoday, @nyit_studentengagementnyc
One of the best ways to represent and celebrate different pieces of culture and history is through artwork. The Office of Student Engagement invites students to showcase their creative side by sharing their music, dances, recipes, poetries, paintings, and more on Instagram. Direct message the Office of Student Engagement at @nytechtoday, @nyit_studentengagementnyc, or tag the department in your posts with the hashtags #NewYorkTechCreates #HLHAM.

Hispanics/Latinx in STEM Instagram Showcase
September 23 – 29, Instagram, @nytechtoday, @nyit_studentengagementnyc
A showcase of Latinx and Hispanic individuals who have made notable achievements in STEM. For more information contact Kinsley McNulty in the Office of Student Life.

Intersectionality: Embracing and Leading With Your Identity
September 29, 12:45 – 2:10 p.m. Zoom
September 29, 8 – 9 p.m. Zoom
A panel discussion and workshop involving students, staff, and alumni regarding understanding one's identity as intersectional, embracing and leading with one's own identities, and practicing intersectionality to become familiar with someone else’s. Speakers at the afternoon session include, Shane Lloyd, consultant at Cook Ross; New York Tech Director of Military and Veterans Affairs Frank Rivera, M.S.; Christopher Frumusa (B.S. ’14); Michelle Shinder (B.S. ’19); and student moderator Sidpasamde (Helena) Tiendebeogo. The evening session will feature, Viola Sawyer, a Ph.D candidate at Western Michigan University, Christopher Frumusa, Chantel Diaz (B.F.A. ’13, M.A. ’15), and student panelist Clifford Temprosa. (This event will focus on all backgrounds and identities, not only pertaining to those who identify as Hispanic or Latinx.) For more information, contact Kinsley McNulty in the Office of Student Life.

Latinx/Hispanics in the Arts Instagram Story Showcase
September 30 – October 6, Instagram: @nytechtoday, @nyit_studentengagement
An online showcase of Latinx and Hispanic individuals who have made notable achievements in the arts. For more information, contact Kinsley McNulty in the Office of Student Life.

Javier Ávila One-Man Show: The Trouble with My Name
October 1, 12:45 – 2 p.m., Zoom, Zoom ID: 944 4354 4229, Password: NYITHHM
Javier Ávila will share his story through his original performance The Trouble with My Name. The one-man show consolidates Ávila’s talents as a poet and professor. The show is the autobiographical journey of a man who moves between cultures to provide a fascinating perspective of American Latinos who struggle to dispel misconceptions about their identity and place in the world. The Trouble with My Name examines the issues of language, race, and social justice in an eye-opening performance where Ávila engages the audience as he tells the story of his life as well as reads poetry that illustrates what it means to be an American of the future. For more information, contact Diandra Macias in the Office of Student Life.

Open Dialogue: Intersectionality and Identity Reflection
October 2, 3 – 4 p.m., Zoom
Students will talk about their intersecting identities and how they interact with one another inside and outside the New York Tech community. This is a follow-up to the Intersectionality: Embracing and Leading with Your Identity panel discussion on September 29. (This event will focus on all backgrounds and identities, not only those who identify as Hispanic or Latinx.) For more information, contact Diandra Macias in the Office of Student Life.

Hispanic/Latinx Student Artist Digital Showcase
October 9, 6 p.m., Zoom
A virtual gallery showcase of artworks submitted by students during the Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month Kickoff event. Students will also talk about their work and their process. For More Information, contact Kinsley McNulty in the Office of Student Life.