November is Hispanic Heritage Month at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) and organizers say this year’s theme — Engaging the World and Building Community — is especially relevant against the backdrop of the 2016 Presidential election and the national dialogue about immigration in the United States.
“The goal of this year’s event is to help students discover other cultures and perspectives,” says Rosario Torres, Hispanic Heritage Month Co-Chair and Professor of Academic Literacy and Linguistics. “The hope is that in doing this, they will extend their sense of community.”
Events scheduled throughout the month include music, theatre and art exhibits. One of this year’s highlights is a November 28 post-election panel discussion featuring two attorneys from The Safe Passage Project, a division of the Justice Action Center at New York Law School that provides pro-bono legal representation of unaccompanied minors in the immigration process.
“Since we are facing a truly historic time with these elections, it is important to provide a space to discuss and learn about immigration law, one aspect of the political arena that is strongly tied to both the Hispanic community and the diverse community at BMCC in general,” said Torres.
Torres says the diversity celebrated in Hispanic Heritage Month through activities such as movies; political, social and cultural lectures; panels; art workshops and literature will help all students to be proud of their cultural and ethnic heritage.
