Celebrating HSI Week and Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month
Dear Students, Staff, and Faculty,
As a Hispanic Serving Institution, we are recognizing HSI Week today through Friday along with other HSI designated colleges and universities across the nation. And on Thursday, we usher in a month-long celebration honoring Latinx/Hispanic Heritage. From September 15 to October 15, we will celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of the Latinx/Hispanic community in the United States. The observation started in 1968 and was enacted into law in 1988. The first day of the annual celebration, September 15th, is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
At Cal Lutheran, over 40% of our student body is Latinx, so coming together to celebrate HSI Week and Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month is particularly important and relevant here. Campus events celebrating both HSI Week and Latinx/Heritage Month support and align with our University mission and values of diversity, inclusion, and educating leaders for a global society.
This year’s activities and educational programs are being co-sponsored by the Office of Talent, Culture, and Diversity and the Center for Cultural Engagement and Inclusion who are working in partnership with Mission and Identity, Pearson Library, Sodexo, the Latinx Employee Group, student groups, and various other departments across campus. We are grateful to the students and colleagues in all of these departments and groups for leaning into the “serving” part of being an HSI. Their combined efforts have brought forth the impressive array of programs and services described in this flyer of events.
With its Fiesta in Kingsmen Park, dancing, music, traditional food, inspiring speakers, and more, Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month has become one of Cal Lutheran’s institutional signature events. It has something for everyone. The month-long festivities conclude on October 20th when Jose Hernandez shares the story of his journey from migrant farmworker to NASA astronaut. You won’t want to miss this amazing story.
It’s a good time to be at California Lutheran University — to be a part of the real efforts and the real change that will make us a stronger, healthier, and more connected community.
Moving forward together,
Lori E. Varlotta, Ph.D.
President
More
- Spotlight on HSI Week / Enfoque en la Semana de las HSI
September 12, 2024With what I hope to be the hottest days of the academic year behind us — temperature wise — I am excited to share that this week California Lutheran University is celebrating National Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Week. Only 600 institutions in the United States have the honor of engaging in such festivities, and we are proud to be among them.
Con la esperanza de que ya hayamos dejado atrás los días más calurosos del año académico — en cuanto a temperatura — me emociona compartir que esta semana, la Universidad Luterana de California está celebrando la Semana Nacional de las Instituciones al Servicio de los Hispanos (HSI). Solo 600 instituciones en los Estados Unidos tienen el honor de participar en estas festividades, y nos enorgullece ser una de ellas.
- Grateful for You
June 13, 2024To say I feel welcomed into this community would be the understatement of my working life. Since my first official day on the job, I have had the privilege of meeting many of you. You have welcomed me with open arms at local church services, a synod assembly, during impromptu conversations along "the spine," and at The Habit for lunch and Starbucks for coffee.