Trinity Celebrates Latinx Heritage Month 2024

Trinity University will observe Latinx Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, with a range of events designed to honor Hispanic and Latinx cultures. This celebration has become a yearly tradition for the Trinity community, providing students with a sense of belonging while encouraging our community to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful conversations. This year’s celebration is made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Mexico, the Americas, and Spain (MAS) Program, the Student Inclusion and Belonging Office (SIB), modern languages and literatures professor Norma Cantú, Ph.D., and the Trinity University Latino Association (TULA).

Latinx Heritage Month, first recognized as Hispanic Heritage Week by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 and later expanded to a month-long celebration by President Ronald Reagan in 1988, acknowledges the contributions of Hispanic Americans to U.S. history, culture, and society. The month begins on September 15, a date that marks the independence anniversaries of several Latin American nations, such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

Elseke Membreño-Zenteno, program associate for the MAS Program within the Center of International Engagement, shared, “Trinity’s celebration of Latinx Heritage Month has become a valued tradition, inviting the entire campus community to honor Hispanic and Latinx cultures. Students, staff, and faculty can look forward to an exciting lineup of events, including El Mercado, featuring food, vendors, music, and more, and the 5th annual Viva Las Américas."

The MAS program offers a variety of initiatives to all students to be engaged with the Latinx, Latin American, and Spanish experiences. Membreño-Zenteno also emphasized the role of the MAS Program in supporting Latinx students at Trinity.

“As the Mexico, the Americas, and Spain (MAS) program coordinator, I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact of our efforts to support Latinx students at Trinity,” Membreño-Zenteno says. “Through MAS, we offer mentorship, scholarships, cultural enrichment, and a sense of community that empowers our students to thrive. Together, we celebrate not only our rich heritage but also the bright future of Latinx scholars and leaders at Trinity University.”

Save the date for the following upcoming events. For more information, contact Elseke Membreño-Zenteno at @email or visit the Latinx Heritage Month page on Trinity's events calendar.

El Mercado
September 17 | 12-2 p.m.| Magic Stones

Hosted by SIB, come and join us for an afternoon of food, music, community engagement, and shopping from San Antonio vendors. 

Book Presentation: Juan Tejeda
September 24 | 4-5:30 p.m. | Northrup Hall Room 040

Hosted by modern languages and literatures professor Norma Cantú, and MAS, Juan Tejeda will present his book Mi Carnal Frank, a family memoir and biography of his brother, Congressman Frank Mariano Tejeda Jr.

Viva Las Américas
October 4 | 6 p.m. | Laurie Auditorium

Hosted by TULA, Viva Las Américas presents an evening full of talent, music, and fun during Fall Family Weekend.

Las canciones de Manuel de Falla, Piano and Cello Concert
October 5 | 7 p.m. | Ruth Taylor Recital Hall

Hosted by Casa de España and MAS, this concert features musicians Ignacio Gallego and Daniel del Pinto performing pieces of Spanish composer and pianist Manuel de Falla, one of Spain’s most significant musicians of the early 20th century. 

Chicanos and Chicanx Art at Trinity
October 7 and 8 | 6-8 p.m. | Latino Collection and Resource Center @ Central Library

Hosted by the San Antonio Public Library, MAS, University Archivist Abra Schnur, and the Conmemorando a la Comunidad project, Trinity students Lee Denney and Marina Oquendo will present how the Chicano movement thrived at Trinity University and how the art of many Chicanx artists and alumni became part of the artistic conversation and influence in San Antonio.

Trinity’s Mexican American (MAS) Book Club
October 10 | 12:45-2 p.m. | Collaborative for Learning & Teaching
Not open to the public. 

Discussion of the book How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz.