Latinx Heritage Month, recognized annually from September 15 through October 15, honors the history, cultural diversity, and unique contributions of individuals and communities whose ancestry can be traced back to Spain, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period and enacted into law on Aug. 17, 1988. Sept. 15 coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, followed shortly thereafter by Mexico (Sept. 16) and Chile (Sept. 18). Día de la Raza and Indigenous Peoples Day, recognized on the second Monday of October, also fall within this period. The term “Latinx” relates to people of Latin American origin or descent and is used as a gender-neutral or non-binary alternative to Latino or Latina. The term Latinx grew in usage in late 2014 and became more widely used following the Orlando nightclub shooting of June 2016.

Fall 2023

  • Pa La Cultura: Monthly Socials - Mondays at 5:30 p.m. at the Social Justice Center, University Crossing (UCC) 370 - September 11, October 16, November 13 and December 11
  • Street Eats - Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Hawk Nest - Join us at Hawk Nest for "Street Eats." We will have some food, fun and outdoor activities. You will have the opportunity to learn more about Hispanic Culture and how UMass Lowell (UML) embraces diversity.;
  • Mental Health in the Latinx Community - Thursday, September 21, 2023, 4 p.m. at Social Justice Center, UCC 370 - the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) and the Counseling Center will have a robust conversation about mental health and what that looks like in the Latinx/a/o/e community. *Open to all UMass Lowell community members*
  • Latin American Student Association (LASA) Open House - Wednesday, September 27, 2023, 5:30-7 p.m. at Social Justice Center - Learn more about UMass Lowell's Latin American Student Association (LASA). LASA will have members of the organization, past and present, talk about their longstanding history and how to get involved.
  • Lowell Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Festival - Saturday, September 30, 2023, Noon-8 p.m. at North Common (413 Fletcher Street, Lowell, MA 01854) - Join us for a day of food, live music, and traditional Latin American cultural performances. The Lowell Hispanic & Latinx Festival will be celebrated at the North Common Park in Lowell, Mass.
  • Art and Stories: Making Your Canvas - Tuesday, October 3, 2023, 4-5 p.m. at UCC 242 - Join OMA for an afternoon of craft and storytelling. You will be able to meet others and "craft" your semester!
  • O'Leary Library: During the months of September & October, honoring the Latinx Heritage, O’Leary Library will have a libguide that highlights ebooks, videos and films from the library collection, as well as feature Films on Demand.
  • National Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month Library lib guides
  • Dinning Hall: Follow UML Dining for updates (table tents with 3 important facts about the heritage)
  • Weekly Social Media postings – Fun facts, recipes, spotlights (Sept. 15- Oct. 15) Follow us at uml_oma on Instagram