“¡Adelante!" Celebrating Latin@s Moving the Valley Forward

“¡Adelante! Celebrating the Latin@s Who Are Moving the Valley Forward” is the theme of the 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month celebration featuring a variety of events Sept. 16 through Nov. 6, from Mayan-themed planetarium shows to a celebration of Día De los Muertos.
 
The Youngstown State University Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee with the support of the YSU Academic Division, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Department of Student Experience, have partnered with the community to mark the national monthlong celebration.
Masks and COVID-19 safety procedures will be in place at all events. For more information, call 330-941-1717 or email amtorres02@ysu.edu.

Here’s the schedule:
 

Thursday, Sept. 16, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., Opening Ceremony, rotunda of the Mahoning County Courthouse, 120 Market Street, Youngstown, featuring a flag ceremony representing 22 Hispanic countries, a musical performance and a keynote by Mrs. Macarena Yañez Briceño, YSU alumna and industrial engineer at General Assembly Lordstown Motors. Event sponsored by the YSU Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee and the YSU Office of Academic Affairs. More information, contact Ana Torres at amtorres02@ysu.edu or 330-941-1717.

Wednesdays, Sept. 15, 22, 29 and October 6, 11:30 a.m., Bilingual Storytime - ¡Celebramos Hispanic Heritage Month! At the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, 305 Wick Ave., Youngstown. Books, songs, rhymes and other fun learning activities in both English and Spanish for children ages 3 to 5 years and caregivers. More information and registration at libraryvisit.org or 330-744-8636.

Fridays and Saturdays, Sept. 17 through 25, 8 p.m., “Mayan Archaeoastronomy: Observers of the Universe,” YSU Ward Beecher Planetarium at YSU, a unique planetarium show describing the way Mayans viewed and understood the universe includes a tour of six Mayan temples and the orientation of the temples in relation to the movements of the sun, moon and Venus. More information at 330-941-3616.

Wednesdays, Sept. 15, 22, 29 and Oct. 6, 4 p.m., Book Banter, at the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County on social media pages - Facebook (Library Mahoning County) and Instagram (librarymahoningcounty).  Titles and authors: Sept. 15, “We Were Here” by Matt de la Peña; Sept. 22, “The Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea & Tomorrow” by Laura Taylor Namey; Sept. 29, “White Fox” by Sara Faring; Oct. 6, “We Set the Dark on Fire” by Tahlor Kay Mejia. More information and registration, at libraryvisit.org or call 330-744-8636.
Sept. 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 and October 1, 2, 3, LatinUs Theater Company Presents “The House of Bernarda Alba” at the Pivot Center for Art, Dance and Expression, 2937 W. 25th Street, Cleveland. Information at tickets at https://tinyurl.com/8369xkm3 or contact Monica Torres-Cabán at 216-870-8220.

Tuesday, Sept. 28, Noon, “Pablo Picasso: A Primitive Soul, Movie & Discussion” at the Butler Institute of American Art, Zona Auditorium, 524 Wick Avenue, Youngstown, a video biography followed by a brief discussion “The Making of a Master” by Lou Zona, museum director, and Joyce Mistovich, education director. Free and open to the community. More information at 330-743-1107.

Sunday, Oct. 3, 3 p.m., 11th Annual Non-Violence Parade & Rally, Youngstown, open to all nonprofit organizations, parade starts on West Wood Street and Wick Avenue and proceeds to the Amphitheater in Wean Park. Registration deadline Sept.15. More information, Penny Wells at 330-788-0545 or pennywwells@sbcglobal.net. 

Monday, Oct. 11, 6 p.m., “El Último Traje” movie and discussion, Youngstown Historical Center of Industry & Labor, a.k.a. Steel Museum, 151 W. Wood Street, Youngstown, presented by Stephanie Pridgeon, assistant professor of Hispanic Studies at Bates College, specializing in 20th and 21st century Latin American Film and Literature, free and open to the public, part of the Youngstown Area Jewish Film Festival, sponsored by the Center for Judaic and Holocaust Studies at YSU (jewishstudies.ysu.edu). More information, Jacob Labendz at jlabendz@ysu.edu. 
 

Tuesday, Oct. 12, 5 p.m., “Why Latinos are Not ‘Spanish’ - The Cultural and Racial Diversity of Hispanics,” in the Ohio Room of YSU Kilcawley Center, presented by Bobby González, nationally-known multicultural speaker, poet and storyteller who offers a message of hope, pride and love for diversity, free and open to the community. Sponsored by the YSU Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the YSU Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee. More information at 330-941-3370.

Saturday, Oct. 16, Noon to 3 p.m., Hispanic Heritage Celebration, Chestnut Room of YSU Kilcawley Center, featuring music entertainment, dance performances, cultural displays, vendors, resource tables, children’s activities, dancing and light refreshments, free and open to the public. Coordinated by the YSU LatinX & Hispanic Student Organization and the Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee with support Student Experience, the Division of Academic Affairs, and community organizations. Parking at the Wick Avenue or Fifth Avenue parking decks for $5 (cash only). More information at 330-941-1717 or amtorres02@ysu.edu.

Friday, Oct. 29, 6: p.m., OCCHA 49th Annual Fundraiser Gala, Maronite Center, 1555 S. Meridian Road, Youngstown. The Organización Cívica y Cultural Hispana Americana, Inc., a social service agency serving the Hispanic and Multicultural community, celebrates 49 years of service with an adults-only fundraiser. Cocktail hour 6 p.m., dinner/program 7 p.m., and entertainment 8 p.m.; auctions, drawings, and a cash bar. Tickets $50 available at https://occha.square.site/. More information at 330-781-1808 or occha@outlook.com. 

Tuesday, Nov. 2, 6 to 8 p.m., Día De los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebration, OCCHA Social Hall, 3660 Shirley Road, Youngstown, a traditional celebration to remember the departed and share memories of loved ones, includes an altar offering by bringing photos, favorite food, or things the departed enjoyed. Traditional hot chocolate and “Pan de Muertos" (Bread of the Dead) served, free and open to the community. Sponsored by The International Institute Fund, OCCHA, La Sociedad Mutualista Mexicana, the YSU Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee, and the YSU Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. More information, Alicia Prieto Langarica at 330-941-1549 or aprietolangarica@ysu.edu. 

Saturday, Nov. 6,  6 to 10 p.m., LAMA Boots, Bikes & Big Wheels Fundraiser Dinner, OCCHA Banquet Hall, 3660 Shirley Road, Youngstown, sponsored by the Youngstown Latin American Motorcycle Association Chapter to benefit OCCHA scholarships. More information at 330- 360-7315.