Penn State Berks celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with free events

READING, Pa. — As part of the college’s ongoing efforts to engage with and support the local Hispanic and Latino communities, Penn State Berks will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15–Oct. 15, with a variety of vibrant events, educational presentations and cultural showcases. These events include dynamic speakers, Latin cuisine, music, dancing and much more. All events are free and open to the public and most are held at Penn State Berks, except "Enhance Your Customer Service with Rosa Julia Parra," which will be held at Centro Hispano Daniel Torres in downtown Reading.

Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff

Monday, Sept. 16, 12:15 p.m., Perkins Plaza
The inaugural Hispanic Heritage Month activity coincides with the Mexican Day of Independence. This event features live music from a mariachi band, remarks from Mexican Heritage faculty members Cesar Martinez and Guadalupe Kasper, and Mexican food. In the event of rain, this event will take place in the first-floor Multipurpose Room in the Perkins Student Center.

"Enhance Your Customer Service with Rosa Julia Parra"

Tuesday, Sept. 17, 6–8 p.m., Centro Hispano Daniel Torres, 25 North 2nd Street, Reading, Pennsylvania
This Spanish-language event will offer networking and a light dinner for entrepreneurs and small businesses. The event will begin at 6 p.m. and the presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. with keynote speaker, Rosa Julia Parra, founder of Palo Magazine, a bilingual educational and lifestyle publication for the ever-growing diverse Berks County community. Parra will discuss the profound impact that customer service has on business success, delving into practical strategies tailored to attendees’ experiences. She will also explore the subtle differences in customer service skills required in our increasingly bilingual world, acknowledging cultural sensitivities and diverse communication styles. This event is hosted by the Berks LaunchBox. Attendees must register in advance.

Eunice Levis Film Showcase

Thursday, Sept. 26, 5 p.m., Perkins Student Center Multipurpose Room
Join Dominican-American filmmaker Eunice Levis for a showcase of her short films, which focus on genre-bending stories that combine her love of horror, sci-fi and fantasy, often through a diasporic lens. The showcase will be followed by a discussion of her work. Light refreshments will be served.

Fiesta Latina

Wednesday, Oct. 2, 5 p.m., Perkins Student Center Multipurpose Room
La Fiesta Latina is an annual event celebrating Latin heritage. With the theme of "one language; many cultures," this event features live presentations, dancing, and a taste of Latin cuisine.

Latino Forum

Friday, Oct. 11, 9:30 a.m.–noon, Perkins Student Center Auditorium
The 12th annual Latino Forum welcomes regional high school students and the Berks County community for an event that celebrates Latino heritage throughout the region. This year's keynote will be presented by Javier Ávila, a professor of English, a poet, novelist and public speaker. Ávila takes his classroom to the masses, using the power of storytelling to deliver a powerful message about unity and inclusion, and transporting the audience on a journey as he moves between cultures. His work has earned numerous awards, including the Cultural Arts Award from the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education. In 2015, he was named Pennsylvania’s Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation. High school students will enjoy pizza following the talk in the first-floor Multipurpose Room, Perkins Student Center. La Mega Radio Station will be there to bring the energy with a remote broadcast of this event. High schools may register students now.

Penn State Berks Hispanic Heritage Month is supported by the Humanities Institute, the Berks Campus Student Fee, the Howard O. and Jean Beaver Endowment for Guest Lecturers at Berks Campus, and the Mrs. Harold McI. Grout and Mrs. C. Glenn Kauffman Endowment for the Arts.

For additional information on any of the events held on campus, contact Donna Chambers, teaching professor of Spanish and coordinator of the Office of Community Engagement. For more information on the Berks LaunchBox event held at Centro Hispano, contact Erica Kunkel, director of continuing education and the Berks LaunchBox.