2023 Hispanic Heritage Month
Latin@s Legacy: Transformando Comunidades
September 15-October 15
Calendar of Events
Opening Ceremony
Mirta Pacheco Arrowsmith, Keynote Speaker
Thursday, September 14, 12:15–1:15 p.m.
Mahoning County Courthouse, Rotunda
120 Market Street, Youngstown
The event features a flag ceremony representing 22 Hispanic countries. Special guests and dignitaries in attendance. The keynote speaker is Mirta Pacheco Arrowsmith, Puerto Rican native, Registered Nurse, YSU alumna, and recipient of the Mercy Health Foundation's Health Care Visionary Award. Event sponsored by the YSU Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee. For further information, please contact Ana Torres at amtorres02@ysu.edu or 330-941-1717.
Hispanic Heritage Celebration
Saturday, October 14, 12:00–3:00 p.m.
YSU Kilcawley Center, Chestnut Room
A festival celebration, free admission, and open to the public. It features music entertainment and dance performances. Attendees enjoy cultural displays, vendors, resource tables, children’s activities, dancing, and light refreshments. Coordinated by the YSU Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee with support from the YSU Academic Affairs Division, YSU Student Affairs Division, YSU DEI Office, as well as community organizations. Parking is available at the Wick Avenue deck for $5 (cash only). For information, please call 330-941-1717 or email amtorres02@ysu.edu.
#NotWhiteCollective
Exhibit: September 5–November 4
Opening Reception: Friday, September 8, 5:00–7:00 p.m.
McDonough Museum of Art
525 Wick Avenue, Youngstown
The #notwhite collective is a group of 13 women artists whose mission is to use non-individualistic, multi-disciplinary art to make their stories visible as they relate, connect, and belong to the Global Majority. They utilize their arts practice singularly and collectively to excavate histories, expose realities, and exorcise oppression. They are bi/multi-racial/cultural, immigrant or descendants of immigrants, investigating the many ways they are seen or not seen; how they self-identify and seek liberation through sharing space and stories; research and artmaking; discussing the history of imperialism and its effect on them, on the whole not-white world. Museum hours are Tuesday-Saturday 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. For additional information, call 330-941-1400 or email mcdonoughmuseumofart@ysu.edu.
20th Century Hispanic Art
September 15–October 29
The Butler Institute of American Art, Mesaros Gallery
524 Wick Avenue, Youngstown
In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Butler Institute of American Art is proud to present an exhibition of Hispanic art. The works are from the Butler’s permanent collection and will feature art spanning the 20th century. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Museum hours are Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Call 330-743-1107 for additional information.
Noche de Cine (Movie Night) at Maag Library
Tuesday, September 19, 6:30 p.m.
YSU Maag Library, Lawn (Rain location room 406A)
Join us for an outdoor movie night on the lawn next to Maag Library! Enjoy free popcorn and a chance to win a prize. Please bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Co-sponsored by Maag Library and the Division of Student Affairs. Questions? Call Maag Library at 330-941-3675.
International Coffee Hour
Friday, September 22, 3:00–5:00 p.m.
YSU Jones Hall, Lariccia Cultural Collaboratory
Join us to meet and mingle with the YSU international students at Coffee Hour. Light refreshments served. Sponsored by the International Programs Office & the YSU Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee. For information, contact Nicholas DuBos at nmdubos01@ysu.edu.
HOLA Fest Youngstown
Saturday, September 23, 12:00–9:00 p.m.
Wean Park
229 W. Front Street, Youngstown
¡Hola Fest! is Youngstown’s very own and largest Hispanic/Latinx Parade, Pageant, and Festival. A free, family-friendly event celebrating culture and community. Filled with lots of children’s activities, music, food, fashion, art, and dance, all from the heart of Latin America. Surrounded by Latino culture through representations and organizations. All are welcome. For additional information visit the Hola Fest website or email info@holafest.org
Understanding the global diversity of Hispanic and Latin Americans
Speaker: Dr. Michael Benitez
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Meet & Greet 3:00 p.m. / Lecture 4:00 p.m.
YSU Kilcawley Center, Rossi Seminar Room
Dr. Benitez has served higher education in different capacities, including academic affairs, student affairs, diversity and inclusion, teaching, and currently serves as the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, and Associate Professor of Multicultural Education at Metropolitan State University of Denver. His lecture will concentrate on the global diversity within the Hispanic and Latino culture, outlining why we should not think of cultural groups as homogenous, but examine the differences within cultural groups. Sponsored by the YSU Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. For information call 330-941-3370.
Make Cuban Maracas
Tuesday, September 26, 2023, 3:30–4:30 p.m.
Youngstown Public Library Main Branch
305 Wick Avenue, Youngstown
Learn how to make maracas, a popular percussion instrument in Cuba. Join us to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! How do maracas produce sound? Use your creative design thinking and engineering skills to construct a pair of maracas. For children in grades K-3 and tweens in grades 4-6. Registration is required. Questions? Contact Lisa Rosenthal at (330) 744-8636
or lrosenthal@libraryvisit.org. For additional programming visit the Library's website.
13th Annual Non-Violence Parade & Rally
Sunday, October 1, 3:00 p.m.
Downtown Youngstown
Join the Kick-Off event celebrating Non-Violence Week in the State of Ohio. Open to all nonprofit organizations such as schools, youth groups, athletic teams, church groups, neighborhood watch groups as well as individuals, businesses, government officials, and politicians. The parade line-up is at 2:30 p.m. on West Wood Street and Wick Avenue. It proceeds downtown for the rally starting at 3:00 p.m. at the Raymond John Wean Foundation Park Amphitheater. Walk, ride in a vehicle, or create a float, and join us. Banners displaying the group’s name and a nonviolence slogan are encouraged. Registration deadline is September 15. Questions? Contact Penny Wells at 330-788-0545 or pennywwells@sbcglobal.net.
Bridging the Health Gap for Hispanics in Our Community
Panel Discussion & Exhibit
Tuesday, October 3, 5:30 p.m.
Youngstown Historical Center for Industry & Labor (YHCIL)
151 W. Wood Street, Youngstown
Health care reform has been a contentious issue in the U.S. for more than a hundred years. Even after the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, Americans continue to disagree on whether and how to make quality health care available to all. Locally, the growing Hispanic population faces serious health challenges. A panel of health professionals will share the lesser-known story of the health disparities experienced daily by Hispanics in our community and discuss ways to bridge those gaps. See the bilingual National Library of Medicine exhibit “For All the People: A Century of Citizen Action in Health Care Reform” (Para Todo el Pueblo: Un Siglo de Acción Ciudadana en la Reforma de la Atención de la Salud). Light refreshments served. Co-Sponsored by the Melnick Medical Museum and the Youngstown Historical Center for Industry & Labor (YHCIL). Questions? Contact Cassie Nespor at 330-941-3788 or clnespor@ysu.edu.
INTERNATIONAL LATINO FOOD FESTIVAL
Sunday, October 8, 12:00–4:00 p.m.
O.C.C.H.A. Social Hall
3660 Shirley Road, Youngstown
O.C.C.H.A. (Organización Cívica y Cultural Hispana Americana, Inc.) will host its 12th Latino food festival on Sunday, October 8 from noon to 4:00 p.m. Experience a taste of the Hispanic cuisine through authentic food delicacies, desserts, and beverages. Some of the countries represented will be Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, and Puerto Rico. The festival will also feature traditional dances, music, a piñata, and more. For information call 330-781-1808.
Latin Fire – Conductor Francisco Noya
Saturday, October 14, 7:30 p.m.
Edward W. Powers Auditorium
260 W. Federal Street, Youngstown
As the weather gets colder, Powers Auditorium will get hotter as Latin Fire erupts from the stage. Guest Conductor Francisco Noya will lead the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra through a dazzling pops concert full of Latin flare. For tickets visit the Youngstown Symphony website.
Día De Muertos Celebration
Wednesday, November 1, 5:00–7:00 p.m.
YSU Kilcawley Center, The Hub
"Día de Muertos" (Day of the Dead) is a traditional celebration when the departed are remembered and special memories are shared. Everyone is invited to partake in altares and ofrendas de tumba (altars and tombstone offerings) by bringing photos or things enjoyed by a departed loved one to honor and celebrate their lives. Traditional hot chocolate and “Pan de Muertos" (Bread of the Dead) will be served. We welcome your participation in singing, poetry reading, dancing, and other visual art presentations. The event is free and open to all. Sponsored by the YSU Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee and the Office of Student Activities. For questions and information, please contact Dr. Alicia Prieto Langarica at aprietolangarica@ysu.edu or 330-941-1549.
O.C.C.H.A. Annual Gala Fundraiser
Friday, November 3, 6:00–10:00 p.m.
Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center
7440 South Ave., Youngstown, Ohio
The Organización Cívica y Cultural Hispana Americana, Inc. (O.C.C.H.A.), a social service agency serving the Hispanic and Multicultural community, is celebrating 51 years of service with an adults-only fundraiser! Tickets are $65 per person. For tickets and sponsorship information call 330-781-1808 or visit the OCCHA website.
Veterans Appreciation Dinner
Saturday, November 18, 5:30 p.m.
O.C.C.H.A. Social Hall
3660 Shirley Road, Youngstown
In observance of Veteran’s Day, O.C.C.H.A.’s annual Hispanic Veterans Appreciation Dinner will be held on Saturday, November 12. Cocktail Hour starts at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person (includes dinner and drink). For tickets and information contact Will Pacheco 330-755-0430 or Hector Colon 330-782-0512.
Coordinated by the YSU Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee with support from the YSU Academic Affairs Division, Student Affairs Division, DEI Office, and community organizations.
For information, please call 330-941-1717 or email amtorres02@ysu.edu.