Students in the Puente Project hold up navy blue T shirts that say Puente and have an Atec seal on them.

Students in the Puente Project at San Diego Mesa College (Mesa College photo).

District celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with art exhibits, mariachi, and more

September 14, 2023 | San Diego Community College District

The San Diego Community College District, including San Diego City, Mesa, Miramar, and Continuing Education colleges, will commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month with a variety of events, September 14 through October 12. Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

4:45 to 6:45 p.m.
Chicanx/Latinx Educator Network
Presented by Office of Student Affairs
San Diego City College, Cafeteria
Learn from a panel of inspiring Chicanx/Latinx Educators, connect with fellow Colegas, and hear from Mariachi Victoria, City Heights Music School for the Mariachi. Event includes a job fair with career opportunities. RSVP: bit.ly/SDcityEducatorNetwork.

Featured Panelists:

  • Afira DeVries, Chief Executive Director, Monarch School
  • Dr. Daisy Gonzales, Deputy Chancellor, California Community Colleges
  • Dr. Tina M. King, President, San Diego College of Continuing Education
  • Dr. Mark Sanchez, President, Southwestern College
  • Dr. Susan Topham, Vice Chancellor of Educational Services, San Diego Community College District
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

3-5 p.m.
Chicanx/Latinx Identity Photography Show (Opening Reception)
Presented by the Luxe Gallery and Photography Department
San Diego City College, Luxe Gallery, V Building
Photography exhibition that celebrates the Chicanx/Latinx identities and communities. Exhibit runs from September 16 through October 13.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Club Rush: En Comunidad
Presented by Associated Students Government and the Office of Student Affairs.
San Diego City College, MS Quad
Students will have the opportunity to meet the Associated Student Government, learn about and join student organizations as well as learn about how to create a new one.

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Building Comunidad
San Diego Miramar College, K2-101
Celebrate the comunidad at Miramar College with music, games, and food.

7 to 8 p.m.
Chicano and Latinx Theatre
Presented by City College Theatre
San Diego City College, Black Box (AH-320)
This event is part of the monthly Fall Workshop Series by the City College Theatre. Meet Dr. Maria Patrice Amon, former City College adjunct and associate professor at California State University, San Marcos, who will present a lecture/workshop on Chicano/Latinx Theatre.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 
La Loteria Day 
Starting event for heritage month with games (loteria), light refreshments (fresh fruit) etc. 
Student Lounge (Outside Patio) at the Educational Cultural Complex, 4343 Ocean View Blvd., San Diego. 

Noon to 2 p.m.
Club Rush with Mariachi
San Diego Miramar College, Compass Point
Learn about clubs on campus while enjoying live music by Mariachi Mi San Diego.

12:30-1:30 p.m.
Latinx Heritage Month Resource Session
Presented by the Mesa College Library, Dr. Edeama Onwuchekwa Jonah, Miguel Murillo Ayala
San Diego Mesa College, LRC 432
This information resource event is geared towards promoting access to campus and community information resources to celebrate the heritage, culture, and contributions of Latinx Americans to the United States. Event includes interactive sessions with Q&A.

5 to 7:30 p.m.
Noche de Familia
Presented by Outreach
San Diego City College, A Building Patio
Learn about the unique programs, services, and resources available at City College and celebrate Chicanx and Latinx Heritage Month as a familia.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

4:30 to 7 p.m.
Noche de la Familia
Presented by HSI STEM E3 Team
San Diego Mesa College, MSN Building (3rd Floor)
Learn about various resources on campus and meet with STEM faculty. This event is open to all STEM students and their families/supporters.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

6 to 7:30 p.m.
Aloha Compadre
San Diego Miramar College, L-105
Meet author Dr. Rudy P. Guevarra Jr. as he discusses his new publication Aloha Compadre: Latinxs in Hawai’i.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

9:35 to 11 a.m. and 11:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.
Donato Martinez: Poetry for Cultural Celebration and Healing
Presented by Donato Martinez
San Diego Mesa College, G-101
Donato will read his poetry and follow up with a discussion.

4 to 6 p.m.
An Optical Vision of the LatinX Community
Presented by Obed and Monica, Borderless Scholars Students
San Diego Mesa College, I4-202
Create a hands-on art piece that shows how society views a Latin immigrant through their personal experiences.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Film: Rituals of Latin America
San Diego Miramar College, K1-211
Explore the reemergence of indigenous beliefs and the arrival of radical new-age religions, which have challenged the long-standing dominance of traditional Christianity.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

10 a.m. to noon
Café con Colegas
Presented by School of Mathematics, Sciences, and Nursing and the Yo Soy STEM Program (Title III HSI STEM Grant)
San Diego City College, S Building Quad
Gather with friends and colleagues over cafecito to celebrate and honor the “C” in “Community” College, nuestra comunidad de San Diego City College.

11 a.m. to noon
Immigration Legal Services
Presented by Angel Aguilar Garcia
San Diego Mesa College
Virtual event on Zoom
Jewish Family Services is the Higher Education Legal Services provider for the Dreamer Resource Center at Mesa College for undocumented students.

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Film: Latin American Boom
San Diego Miramar College, K1-211
Learn about artist Héctor Castellanos Lara's tremendous impact on the arts community of Northeast Ohio, from his work on Parade the Circle and Chalk Festival in Cleveland's University Circle to his beloved Dia de Muertos celebrations in the Gordon Square Arts District. Additionally, visit the Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center for a look into the "Doors to My Barrio" exhibit.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Film: Latin American Women Artists
San Diego Miramar College, K1-211
Surveying some of the most underappreciated art of the 20th century, this program documents a groundbreaking exhibit of work by Latin American women at the Milwaukee Art Museum including Frida Kahlo and María Izquierdo, as well as living artists Fanny Sanin, Soledad Salame, Elba Damast, and many others. The program reevaluates notions of mainstream and margin in the contemporary art world.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

10 to 11:30 a.m.
La Malinche in Art
San Diego Miramar College, H-103
Join Professor April Koch for a presentation on La Malinche in Art.

Celebrating Chicanx/Latinx Heritage with Soccer Double Header
Presented by Outreach, Office of Student Affairs, and School of Health, Exercise Science, and Athletics.
San Diego City College, Soccer Field
Celebrate Chicanx/Latinx Heritage with a special night of community, food, fun, and a soccer double header. Cheer on the women’s and men’s soccer teams as you enjoy free souvenirs, free tacos, and prizes! Free admission to the game, free food, and free jerseys will be given away to the first 100 attendees.
12:30 p.m. Festivities
1 p.m. Men’s Game (City College vs Imperial Valley)
3 p.m. Women’s Game (City College vs Grossmont College)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4

Noon to 1 p.m.
Como Dice El Dicho
Presented by Student Health Center
San Diego City College, Intercultural Center (L-206)
Learn about how we use affirmations in our cultura and create your own dicho (saying) to get you through this semester!

3-4 p.m.
How to Successfully Start a Business
Presented by Eduardo Landeros
San Diego Mesa College
Virtual event on Zoom
This workshop covers the ins and outs of starting a small business and prepares the student to successfully launch one.

7 to 8 p.m.
City College Concerts: Southwestern College Mariachi Ensemble
Presented by MUSIC@CITY and World Cultures
San Diego City College, City College Recording Studio (C-209)
Mariachi Garibaldi, an internationally-recognized ensemble from Southwestern College, will perform traditional mariachi music under the direction of Professor Jeff Nevin. Hear songs from Son Jalisciense, Huapango, Ranchera, Son Jarocho, and Joropo. The performance will be livestreamed from the City College Recording Studio.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10

7 to 8 p.m.
Core Ensemble presents Las Magníficas
Presented by World Cultures
San Diego City College, Black Box Theater (AH-320)
Core Ensemble presents a musical theater piece for singing actress and piano exploring the lives and times of three towering figures in Latin American cultural history: Cuban Singer Celia Cruz, “The Queen of Salsa”, Chilean Singer-Songwriter Violeta Parra, “The Mother of Latin American Folk Music” and the iconic Mexican singing superstar Chavela Vargas.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11

9:30 to 11 a.m.
Against the Wall Book Presentation with Author Jenn Budd
Presented by Eduardo J. Aguilar and Jenn Budd
San Diego Mesa College, G-101 (note: location updated as of October 3)
Jenn Budd, a former Border Patrol agent and now migrant rights activist, will share her testimony about her time as a Border Patrol agent. Some of the topics to be discussed include the Border Patrol's experiences, work culture, challenges, white supremacy in the agency, women's experiences in law enforcement, LGBTQIA+ issues, mental health, and deterrence policies.

10 to 11 a.m.
Poetry Reading
San Diego Miramar College
Virtual event on Zoom
Join Professor Dr. Adrian Arancibia for a poetry reading.

Noon to 2 p.m.
Afro Latinx Experience
Presented by Yolanda Granados and Robyn Bolden
San Diego Mesa College, ANANZA Center (14-202)

3 to 4 p.m.
Transgenero 2000
San Diego City College, Intercultural Center L-206
Presented by the Latin@x Services at the San Diego LGBT Community Center
This is an open group in Spanish for families, friends, and people who want to understand and provide support to transgender people.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12

12:30-2 p.m.
DEBER Chicanx: Changing the Face of Education through Testimonios of Chicanx Professionals
(Note: event date updated on October 3)
Presented by DEBER Team
San Diego Mesa College, AVANZA Center (I4-202)
A DEBER student-led event with the purpose of creating and sharing a collective space for amplifying and celebrating the stories and journeys of Chicanx Professionals in higher education in order to uplift the unique gifts and insights that these professionals bring to the field of education and the communities they work in.

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Critical Pedagogy and Comunidad in the Classroom
Presented by Jennifer Frost Moreno
San Diego Mesa College, G-101

This workshop will look into the critical pedagogical practices that fuel Latino/a/e student empowerment and success. Professor Moreno will also share their practices for creating comunidad in the classroom to build a trusting, fun, and productive environment, inspired by grassroots community organizing.

throughout Hispanic Heritage Month

The Career Services & LEAD at Miramar College are recognizing the influence of the Latinx community and their important contributions to the world of work. The Latinx & the World of Work Display will be placed around the bookstore on the 1st Floor of the K1 Building.

Mesa College will also showcase a Latinx Heritage Month Display at the LRC-432.

Subscribe to newscenter

Upcoming Events

More Events
Top