Hispanic Heritage Month: HCC hosts cultural Latinx Fiesta

The Campus Center at Holyoke Community College was bustling today as the college continues to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a Latinx fiesta. 22 News reported Melissa Torres has a closer look at what this cultural celebration means to the campus community. That's right Nick and Ciara, Holyoke actually has the largest Puerto Rican population per capita outside of the island and of course HCC is a Hispanic serving institution. Today's celebration for students and faculty alike offering them a piece of home. I'm a proud Puerto Rican and so are all of us so we're just kind of excited to showcase our culture for everybody to enjoy. Each table represents a different country under the Latinx umbrella. Students like Mishy Serrano teaching others at this Hispanic serving institution about her culture, customs and traditions. Everyone's willing to try stuff and they say like can I take a flag even though I'm not Mexican and say sure. So there is this acceptance and kind of like understanding of different cultures and different communities within the college. Raul Gutierrez professor of Latinx studies at HCC says this event allows the community to engage in meaningful conversations that enable reflections on the multiple facets of their identities. Having those little opportunities to tell people who you are and having other people figure out just how cool it is and how different everyone is and that's something we can all use to connect. From pancho bao in Puerto Rico to besitos de coco from Nicaragua or even croquetas from Cuba. Even if it is just food we are still educating people on our culture. We're still being educated as we have conversations with folks. Community is a big part especially of a Hispanic and Latino like culture so the fact that we're able to be in community, share with community and enjoy our community is very very important here for us. This cultural exchange allowing students to develop a better understanding and a deeper appreciation for Latin American culture. It's important to have these events because students might not feel that they're front and center in different spaces so creating these at least that it feels like home and it creates belonging. To wrap up Hispanic Heritage Month HCC is also having another event next week on October 9th that's going to be talking about Hispanic Heritage as well as recognizing and supporting Deaf Awareness Month. Working for you live in Holyoke tonight Felicia Torres 22 News.