Celebrating Hispanic and Latine/x Heritage Month at UMBC

During National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15), we recognize the contributions and celebrate the vibrant presence of Hispanic and Latine/x Americans in the United States. At UMBC and The Mosaic Center, we honor the heritage, resilience, and cultural richness of these communities, and uplift the stories that have shaped and continue to shape our national identity.

Our Hispanic and Latine/x communities have profoundly and positively influenced our country through their deep-rooted commitments to family, faith, hard work, and service. They have enriched our shared culture through centuries-old traditions and the vibrant, multiethnic, multicultural customs they carry, which continue to evolve.

So why does Hispanic Heritage Month begin in the middle of September?
The celebration begins on September 15, which marks the independence anniversaries of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In the days that follow, Mexico (September 16), Chile (September 18), and Belize (September 21) also commemorate their independence. In addition to national independence celebrations, this month also includes days that honor cultural heritage and indigenous roots. October 12 is observed in various parts of Latin America as a day to recognize and reflect on the region’s rich cultural diversity. It is known as the “Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity” in Argentina and the “Day of Decolonization” in Bolivia, reminding us of the importance of honoring Indigenous histories and continuing efforts toward justice and representation. 

Understanding Terms: Hispanic vs. Latino/a/e/x
The term Hispanic generally refers to people from Spanish-speaking countries, including those with heritage from Spain. Latino, Latina, Latine, or Latinx refer to people with cultural and/or ancestral ties to Latin America and the Caribbean, regardless of language, and typically do not include Spain. Some may identify with one term, both, or neither, and it’s important to respect and affirm individual identities across the diaspora.

Curious about the term Latinx? Learn more here or here. 

The Power of Community

This month is not only about celebration, it’s also about connection. At a time when many of our communities, especially our Latine/x & Hispanic community, continue to face threats, erasure, and growing feelings of unsafety, being in community is essential. Celebrating and engaging in community together is a powerful form of resistance, healing, and joy. It is through shared spaces that we find strength, validation, and the opportunity to uplift one another.

We encourage all members of the UMBC community to come together, whether by attending events, sharing stories, or supporting identity-based spaces. If you are looking for community, you are not alone. The Mosaic Center and Student Belonging offer intentional spaces for belonging, cultural heritage events, and opportunities for dialogue and celebration throughout the year.

Join our Campus Organizations as they engage in celebration and community:

Hispanic and Latino Student Union (HLSU) (@umbc_hlsu)

Latinx and Hispanic Graduate Student Association (LHGSA) (@umbc_lhgsa)

Society of Advancing Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)

Latino/Hispanic Faculty Association (LHFA) 

Join Us
Share in this month-long tribute by learning about and celebrating the generations of Hispanic and Latine/x Americans who have influenced, shaped, and enriched our society. Let's honor their legacies and each other by building spaces of belonging, affirmation, and community.

We are excited to share about events The Mosaic is sponsoring/co-sponsoring during this Heritage Month! 

UNAPOLOGETIC: Street Art as Activism and Liberation

Tuesday, September 23 | 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM | Library and Gallery, Albin O. Kuhn : Gallery

Hear Our Stories: Celebrating Hispanic & Latine/x Heritage Month 

Thursday, September 25 | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM | The Commons Mainstreet (in front of the Bookstore)

Bachata & Salsa Night 

Friday, September 26 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | The RAC

*This event requires sneakers 

Want to learn more about Hispanic & Latine/x Heritage Month? Click here. 

The Mosaic Center and all events are open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

Fall 2025 Humanities Forum, the Dresher Center for the Humanities presents

UNAPOLOGETIC: Street Art as Activism and Liberation

Johanna Toruño is a Salvadoran-born, community-taught visual artist who uses the streets as a public platform and gallery. Raised in San Salvador until being displaced to the US at age 10, she is inspired by her experiences growing up in the aftermath of the civil war to use poster work as a medium to self-express and center a queer migrant lens. As she explains, “political art is the people’s art as it has been used for many generations.” In this talk, Toruño will discuss how she utilizes street art as a tool of resistance.

Johanna Toruño is the founder of The Unapologetic Street Series, a street art series that is exhibited at public spaces, such as walls, utility posts, and mailboxes. Her bold imagery and statements, often adorned in lush florals, celebrate queer, working class, and immigrant communities. Through her work, Toruño challenges social norms and centers messages of self-reflection and self-acceptance. Using a soft aesthetic with colors that remind her of home, Toruño brings storytelling and a chance for her audience to re-learn and decolonize their own self to accessible spaces. Her political and social messages highlight topics of reimagining norms, and the joy of holding space for collective liberation. Johanna is a TED speaker and lecturer at Universities like Stanford, Princeton, Columbia, and others. Johanna's work has been featured in The New York Times, Teen Vogue, NPR, Nylon, and more. Johanna lives and works in Los Angeles with her partner and 2 dogs. If she's not wheat pasting, she's cooking.

To RSVP and for more information, see the original post here. 

Co-sponsored by the Center for Innovation, Research, and Creativity in the Arts; the Center for Social Justice Dialogue; the Department of Gender, Women’s, + Sexuality Studies; the Latin American Feminisms Faculty Working Group; the Latin American Studies Minor;  the Latinx and Hispanic Faculty Association; The Mosaic: Center for Cultural Diversity; and the Orser Center for Public Humanities.

This event is open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.