Mi Gente club held a poetry reading, film screening, and community time event in recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month.
On September 28th, in the Roberts Family Library, Mi Gente held a poetry reading in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins each year on the 15th of September, marks the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries, such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. This year’s theme for the month is Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation, which seeks to bring together all individuals to appreciate the culture of others.
From September 15 to October 15, the GA community and the rest of America celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the achievements of Hispanic Americans and their influence on society. To celebrate and raise awareness about Hispanic Culture, Mi Gente club organized a series of events over the month. The first event was a Poetry Reading held in the library during break. Almost every member of Mi Gente read a poem from notable Hispanic authors. This event’s purpose was to show appreciation for Hispanic poets and share poems that offered a deeper meaning and were relatable to all members of the GA community.
After the success of the Poetry Reading, Mi Gente hosted a movie night to stream In the Heights on October 14 in the Honickman. In The Heights, a screenplay by Lin Manuel Miranda, takes place in Washington Heights, New York. It is a fun and inspiring film that portrays characters who navigate through their everyday lives in aspiration of their goals.
In addition to planning school-wide activities, Mi Gente also holds group discussions regarding the members’ thoughts on representation, focusing on “what makes an individual Hispanic”. When asked about their future plans for the year, Mi Gente Leader Caitlin Lozano ’24 said, “We are planning a community time to discuss the importance of Mi Gente and notable Hispanic figures.”
In previous years there have been Community Times set for Black History month and Asian American Pacific Islander month; this will be the first time GA will incorporate activities in lieu of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Mi Gente looks forward to bringing students and faculty together by hosting an In the Heights screening as well as a Community Time period to educate those further on what Hispanic Culture means. Many thanks to Mi Gente leaders Amelia Massetti ’23, Colin Leon ’23, Mario Toscano ’24, Sebastian Cortes ’24, Caitlin Lozano ’24, and faculty advisor Ms. Alicia Evans, for organizing these events to unite the community and celebrate Hispanic culture.