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National Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration that honors the culture, contributions and history of��Americans whose heritage can be traced back to more than 20 Latin American countries, including those in Central and South America and the Caribbean.

In 2018, Gina Garcia brought that celebration to the 51��Ʒ��Ƶ. The associate professor in 51��Ʒ��Ƶ’s School of Education and expert on Hispanic Serving Institutions chaired an institution-wide committee to launch the first Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month (LHHM).��In addition to on-campus events, the University partnered this year with 51��Ʒ��Ƶsburgh organizations, including the Latin American Cultural Center, 51��Ʒ��Ƶsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 51��Ʒ��Ƶsburgh Opera and Carnegie Mellon University. .

Below you’ll find local resources you should know if you’re Hispanic yourself or just interested in learning more about the people, culture and countries that fit under the umbrella.

University resources and information��

These seven student-led cultural organizations foster diversity on 51��Ʒ��Ƶ’s campus and provide a safe space for different Latinx and Hispanic-identifying communities and supporters to celebrate their cultural richness through activities, including festivals, parties, film showings and more:

Brazil Nuts Portuguese Club

’��goal is to expose students to Brazilian culture and the Portuguese language and practice their Portuguese outside of the classroom.

Caribbean and Latin American Student Organization

�ճ����promotes intellectual and cultural exchanges through various activities from the Caribbean and Latin America.

Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence

�ʾ��ٳ�'������encourages immigrant entrepreneurship through free international trade and Spanish language business consulting with a dedicated expert and programming to assist small business owners with gaining access to new markets to sell into or purchase from. Questions? Reach out to Brent Rondon at��brondon [at] innovation.pitt.edu.

[Read about how the SBDC supports Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs.]

Latin American Graduate Organization of Students

�ճ���� (LAGOS)��is for Latin American, Latino/a, Hispanic, Afro-Latino/a graduate and professional students.

Latino Medical Student Association

empowers students through service, mentorship and education to advocate for the health of the Latino community.

Latinx Student Association

The mission of �ʾ��ٳ�’s��Latinx Student Association��is to motivate, educate, advocate and celebrate.

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

��changes lives by empowering the Hispanic community through STEM awareness, access, support and development.

Spanish Club

�ʾ��ٳ�’s����promotes the practice of speaking Spanish.

Other 51��Ʒ��Ƶ events, organizations and resources

Hispanic Latino Professional Affinity Group

This provides faculty and staff with resources that promote community building, mentorship and professional development.

Center for Latin American Studies

�ճ󾱲���promotes global understanding of Latin America, the Caribbean and their diverse��diasporic��communities through programs and initiatives for students and faculty that range in topic from preserving the Amazon rainforests to public policy reform.

Eduardo Lozano Latin American Collection

This supports the campus community and serves as a regional, national and international resource center and clearinghouse for information on Latin America.

Hispanic Languages and Literature Department

This 51��Ʒ��Ƶ department is about forming connections through language and offers undergraduate and graduate programs. It’s also home to the��, the “oldest and most extensive academic organization dedicated to the study and promotion of research in Latin American literature.”

Latinx Connect Conference

Each March, this�� invites students, educators, community leaders and political advocates to envision ways to empower and support thriving futures for diverse Latinx communities at local, national and global levels through dialogue.

What do we call ourselves? 51��Ʒ��Ƶ experts and community members weigh in: