Student activist Saul Flores will speak in the University Center Ballroom Thursday,
Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. in a Five-Star event as part of Ferris State University's Latinx
Heritage Month celebration.A collaborative effort of Ferris State University campus organizations and groups has produced a series of events in conjunction with Latinx Heritage Month, celebrated nationally from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
Hispanic/Latino Cultural Center Executive Director Kaylee Burke said Ferris’ activities began Tuesday, Sept. 17 with a Latinxpo. The campus community is welcome to attend and enjoy Ferris’ Latinx Heritage Month events continuing through Monday, Oct. 7.
“This annual celebration is important for our campus to embrace and participate in,” Burke said. “There are students with Panamanian, Columbian and Mexican ancestry who are part of our university community. All are welcome to learn from this diverse group, and appreciate its contributions to our campus.”
Ferris’ Spanish faculty will host a screening of “Delores,” the Peabody Award-winning 2017 documentary on the life and efforts of Dolores Huerta, who advanced from organizing the National Farmworkers Association to matters of gender equity, civil rights and environmentalism. The film will be shown in Room 126 of the Starr Building Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m.
Sigma Lambda Beta President Leo Almanza, a third-year Criminal Justice student from Holland said a campus Five-Star event is set for Thursday, Oct. 3 when first-generation collegian Saul Flores speaks at 7 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom.
“I am also a first-generation student, and was encouraged to reflect a great deal on the sacrifices made by my own mother, a factory worker, when I saw Saul speak at the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values Central Conference in Indianapolis, this past February,” Almanza said. “His story of a 5,000-mile journey on foot to document what immigrants go through to reach the United States was very compelling. It was worth it to apply for and receive Student Activity Fund support for his appearance. We have been spreading the word with faculty and social media about his appearance, because we believe his message will benefit all students.”
As part of the “Friday Nights at Ferris” schedule, an Afro-Latin dance event will take place Oct. 4 in University Center, Room 202 from 8 to 11 p.m. The final event on the Latinx Heritage Month schedule is a discussion on Latin@ culture and identity hosted by the Hispanic Student Organization, beginning at 7 p.m. in University Center, Room 203.
Burke said other groups and university offices supporting this schedule include the Center for Leadership, Activities and Career Services, Office of Multicultural Student Services and the English, Literature and World Languages Department.
“We invite everyone to come to any or all of these events, to share the experience and joy with us,” Burke said.
Anyone with a disability who wishes to attend a Latinx Heritage Month event can contact the OMSS by email or call (231) 591-2617 at least 72 hours in advance.