PNW’s Hispanic Heritage Month activities engage the campus community and the public with events highlighting the Latinx communities’ history, culture, cuisine, and contributions to the world. Information about event times and locations can be found at pnw.edu/hispanic-heritage-month.

The celebration kicks off on Sept. 13 with a Mexican Independence Day celebration, hosted by PNW’s Spanish Club student organization, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Founders Plaza on the Hammond campus, 2200 169th St., Hammond, IN. Attendees can enjoy live music from a Mariachi, a live performance from Aztec dance group Nahui Ollin Huehuecoyotl and Mexican cuisine.

The premier event of PNW’s celebration will be the Hispanic Independence Parade and subsequent Hispanic Heritage Festival at PNW’s Hammond campus on Sept. 25. The parade, organized by Hispanics United Government Services (H.U.G.S.) Cultural Committee of Hammond, will begin at noon from Morton High School and travel west to PNW’s Hammond campus. Immediately following the parade, beginning at 1 p.m. the public is invited to attend PNW’s annual Hispanic Heritage Festival, featuring food, live entertainment and family-friendly activities.

Diversity and inclusion are core values of PNW, as the university fosters a learning environment welcoming of different ethnicities and perspectives. PNW’s fall 2022 enrollment data shows an increasingly diverse student body, including over 25% of its undergraduate population who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.

To learn more about PNW’s Hispanic Heritage Month events, visit pnw.edu/hispanic-heritage-month.

PNW Hispanic Heritage Month events

PNW puts forward a wide lineup of activities during Hispanic Heritage Month, including festivals, guest speakers, presentations and more. For event details and updates, please visit pnw.edu/hispanic-heritage-month.

• 8th Annual Spanish Club Mexican Independence Day Celebration: 5 p.m., Sept. 13
• Join the Spanish Club in celebrating Mexican Independence by declaring the famous Miguel Hidalgo Independence "Grito." There will be a performance by a Mariachi, Aztec dance group Nahui Ollin Huehuecoyotl and delicious Mexican food. The celebration will take place in Founders Plaza on the Hammond campus, 2200 169th St., Hammond, IN.

• Hispanic Independence Parade: Noon, Sept. 25
• Join the community for the sixth annual Hispanic Independence Parade, sponsored by the Hispanics United Government Services (H.U.G.S.) Cultural Committee of Hammond. The parade begins at noon from Morton High School, 6915 Grand Ave., Hammond, IN and will finish at PNW’s Hammond campus. The route travels west on 169th Street, then south on Kennedy Avenue and finally west on 173rd Street.

• 2nd  annual PNW Hispanic Heritage Festival: 1 p.m., Sept. 25
• Following the Hispanic Independence Parade, celebrate Hispanic culture at PNW’s second annual Hispanic Heritage Festival with food, live entertainment and family-friendly activities. PNW’s festival will be hosted on multiple levels of the 169th Street parking garage complex, which is located at the corners of 171st Street and Wicker Avenue. Enter on Wicker Ave. north of 171st Street, or enter via the main 169th Street entrance to campus.

• Salsa Dance Lessons: 6 p.m., Sept. 27
• Come join the Honors College for Salsa lessons. Amaze your friends and yourself with how fantastic you’ll dance after lessons with instructor Sylvia Lopez. The event takes place in Alumni Hall of the Student Union & Library Building on the Hammond campus, 2233 173rd St., Hammond, IN.

• NWI Food Bank Guest Speaker: 11 a.m., Sept. 28
• Join the Honors College as we welcome guest speaker Victor Garcia, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. Garcia oversees the food bank, which has been fighting against food insecurity as far back as 1982, distributing more than 4.5 million meals each year across Lake and Porter counties. He will lead an informative discussion on leadership and his path to success. Garcia presents in Alumni Hall of the Student Union & Library Building on the Hammond campus, 2233 173rd St., Hammond, IN.

• Intentional Unicorn: 11 a.m., Sept. 29
• Join us for a conversation with Jennie Lopez, author, speaker, and associate vice president of global talent acquisition at Eli Lilly and Company. Lopez will discuss how unlocking one’s individual superpower can be a game changer, personally and professionally. Lopez presents in Alumni Hall of the Student Union & Library Building on the Hammond campus, 2233 173rd St., Hammond, IN.

• Tablao Flamenco by David Chiriboga: 2 p.m., Oct. 3
• Experience an afternoon in Spain with a flamenco ensemble featuring musicians and dancers, and an array of Spanish tapas. The event takes place in room 144 of the Library Student Faculty Building on the Westville campus, 1401 S. U.S. 421, Westville, IN.

• Take a Trip Around Latino Culture: 5 p.m., Oct. 3
• Alpha Psi Lambda will be sharing information about culture and traditions in a variety of Latin American countries. Students will also offer face painting to highlight Dia de los Muertos as a tradition in many countries in Latin America. The event takes place in Alumni Hall of the Student Union & Library Building on the Hammond campus, 2233 173rd St., Hammond, IN.

• Celia Cruz Tribute: 7 p.m., Oct. 4
• Spend an evening learning about the legendary Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz. Come listen to some of her most popular songs performed by local Salsa singer Sylvia Lopez. The Celia Cruz Tribute will have you dancing to beautiful Cuban rhythms. The event takes place in Alumni Hall of the Student Union & Library Building on the Hammond campus, 2233 173rd St., Hammond, IN.

• Reporting Live, I’m Ana Belaval: Noon, Oct. 5
• Spend an afternoon with journalist and comedian Ana Belaval from WGN. A four-time Emmy award winner and Puerto Rico native, Belaval previews notable attractions, people and activities with a dose of improv in her signature funny and fluent style. The event takes place in Alumni Hall of the Student Union & Library Building on the Hammond campus, 2233 173rd St., Hammond, IN.

• Latino Paint Night with Lubeznik: 4 p.m., Oct. 5
• The Lubeznik Center for the Arts hosts a paint night on PNW’s Westville campus in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Join for painting, music, and refreshments. The event takes place in room 144 of the Library Student Faculty Building, 1401 S. U.S. 421, Westville, IN.

• Latino Resource Fair: 10 a.m., Oct. 8
• The Hammond Hispanic Community Committee hosts its 19th annual Latino Resource Fair. Come to Morton High School, 6915 Grand Ave., Hammond, IN, to connect with over 75 resources in education, health care, business and more. Attendees can also receive free services and support, such as haircuts, eye exams, vaccinations and teeth cleaning. 21st Century Scholars students will also learn how to keep their scholarship in high school and beyond.

• 3rd annual Anything for Selenas: 5 p.m., Oct. 14

o   Join us for our third annual Anything for Selenas event, a night of trivia, games, food and cumbia — Selena style. Design your own Selena hat or earrings hasta que “no me queda mas” glitter and rhinestones. Laugh with your friends as you guess trivia and try to earn limited prizes. Bring your dancing shoes because you’ll want to “bailar esta cumbia.” The event takes place in Alumni Hall of the Student Union & Library Building on the Hammond campus, 2233 173rd St., Hammond, IN.