In 1968, Hispanic Heritage Week was first observed under the directive of President Lyndon Johnson. Twenty years later, in 1988 under President Ronald Reagan, the week was expanded to a full month of honoring the cultures, contributions, and collective actions of people of Latinx descent. Celebrated from September 15 to October 15, the first day of this heritage month honors the independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua from Spanish colonial rule on September 15, 1821.

As a third of our city’s population, Latino/a/x Chicagoans have long played a vital role in our community. Join us as we celebrate Chicago’s Latinx communities with a day of learning, interactive activities, and community connections.

Free with general admission; RSVP not needed.

Schedule

2nd floor, Morse Genius Chicago Room

10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. – Craft Activities
Activities include coloring pages for young ones and Ojo de Dios (“God’s Eye”), a yarn-based craft that is used widely in several Latin American communities, primarily México and Peru. As you learn how to make your own, hear about its origins among the Huichol (Wixaritari) and Tepehuan of Mexico.

12:00–2:00 p.m. – Screening of Encanto (2021)
Following the screening is an age-appropriate discussion about major themes in the film, including generational trauma, familial relations, and magical realism as it relates to both the film and Latin American art history.