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A collection of events will take place in honor of Latinx Heritage Month.
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Latinx Heritage Month begins Thursday at WIU

September 30, 2026

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MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois University's Casa Latina Cultural Center will celebrate Latinx Heritage Month this October with a month-long series of cultural showcases, educational programs and community gatherings.

The celebration kicks off with Beyond the Stereotype at 4 p.m. Thursday, October 1 in the Multicultural Center (MCC) multipurpose room. It is an educational event in collaboration with the Women's Center, which will discuss how individuals in the Hispanic and female communities are stereotyped into working specific jobs. They will discuss active individuals breaking the stereotype and transcending boundaries.

The annual Bring Your Own Tortilla (BYOT) event will be hosted 1-3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 on the MCC lawn. Students are invited to bring a tortilla, which Casa Latina staff will fill with hearty servings of your favorite protein and toppings. This year, the African Student Association (ASA) and African Undergraduate Union (AUU) are joining Casa Latina for this event, turning it into a unique cultural food exchange experience for students.

Mid-month highlights include El Jaripeo, an outdoor music and dance celebration featuring a mechanical bull on the MCC Lawn, on Friday, Oct. 9 and Lotería, a traditional game of chance similar to bingo but played with illustrated cards, on Wednesday, Oct. 14 in collaboration with UUB.

At 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19 in the Horrabin Hall Gym will be Ritmo Y Ruedas, a roller skating event to the tune of Cumbias and other Latin Music. The excitement continues with Kultural Fusion on Wednesday, Oct. 21 in the MCC multipurpose room, a collaboration between Casa Latina, Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center, and International Student Support. Designed to celebrate the intersection of cultures, the event will bring people together through food and fellowship.

As October draws to a close, Casa Latina will celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with a Muertos Photoshoot on Monday, Oct. 26 and Día de los Muertos Decorating on Thursday, Oct. 29 where they will invite the campus to help create community altars. The month concludes with the annual Día de los Muertos Celebration at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, honoring the cultural significance of remembering loved ones with food, music, and reflection.

"This Latinx Heritage Month will be one that will be remembered as we will bring homage to the Hispanic experiences students grew up with, provide a cultural exploration, and transcend boundaries by redefining established norms," said Casa Latina Graduate Assistant Johnmarco Maldonado.

Graduate Assistant Laura Orozco added, "I hope students enjoy these events and take the opportunity to learn more about our cultures. I would like for them to meet new people, share experiences, and feel a little bit more at home at Casa Latina "

Casa Latina invites the campus community to participate in these events, support local Latinx artists and engage in meaningful conversations about the contributions of Latinx individuals throughout history. A full schedule of events and additional details can be found here.

For questions, contact Casa Latina Cultural Center at casa@wiu.edu, and for more information on events, visit wiu.edu/leathernecklink.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing