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Latinx Chicanx Heritage Month

Latinx Chicanx Heritage Month

LatinX ChicanX Heritage Month display with floral embroidery Latinx Chicanx Heritage Month (September 15–October 15) honors the achievements of LatinX, ChicanX, and Hispanics. The terms Latinx and Chicanx have been adopted to be gender inclusive. The celebration was first authorized in 1968, when the US Congress adopted a resolution asking the President to issue a proclamation designating a week in September including September 15 and 16 as “National Hispanic Heritage Week.” In 1988 Congress expanded the celebration to a 31-day period beginning September 15. The resolution calls “on the people of the US, especially the educational community, to observe National Hispanic Heritage Month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.” Hispanic Heritage Month coincides with celebrations of Independence Day in many Latin American countries—including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Chile.  Read more


MiraCosta's theme for the 2023 LatinX heritage month is Cultivando Cultura,Calendar of events Confianza, Cariño y Comunidad.

The Turning Wheel Project (TWP) is coming to MiraCosta College, 1 Barnard Drive on October 19th from 9:00am – 3:00pm. The TWP is a partnership between the Chicano Park Steering Committee, the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center and the University of San Diego. Through relevant education and service, the TWP is all about recognizing and affirming the contributions of Chicano Park, Logan Heights and surrounding communities. The TWP is designed as a hub to serve, inspire and inform the community through the power of education.

For more information, and events, please visit the Social Justice and Equity Center History and Heritage Programming page. 

Famous People in Latinx and Chicanx History

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Franmarie Metzler; U.S. House Office of Photography, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Has served as the U.S. representative for New York's 14th congressional district since 2019, as a member of the Democratic Party. 

Full Bio

Jenna Ortega

Jenna Ortega

StayTunedNBC:, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jenna Ortega is an American actress. Ortega was born in 2002 in Coachella Valley, California, to mixed Mexican and Puerto Rican parents.

Full Bio

César Chávez

César Chávez

Work permit, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Grass-roots labor organizer of California migrant workers who formed and lead the National Farm Workers Association.  

Full Bio

America Ferrera

America Ferrera

Scott Saldukas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Born in Los Angeles to Honduran parents, America is an actor and more recently an activist focusing on women's and immigrants' rights.

Full Bio

Dolores Huerta

Dolores Huerta

Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cofounder and first VP of the United Farm Workers, she is the most prominent Chicana labor leader in the United States.

Full Bio

 

Julian Castro

Julian Castro

Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The youngest elected mayor of a top 50 city in 2009, and appointed as secretary of the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development in 2014.

Full Bio

Lin Manuel Miranda

Lin Manuel Miranda

Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Playwright, actor, composer, and performer. Creator of critically acclaimed musical Hamilton, winner of Tony Awards and Pulitzer Prize.

Full Bio

Carmen Maria Machado

Carmen Maria Machado

Carmen Maria Machado., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Short story author, essayist, and critic. Her short fiction, essays, and criticism appeared in numerous literary magazines and anthologies.

Full Bio

Julia Alvarez

Julia Alvarez

Valerie Hinojosa, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

As the daughter of immigrants, Alvarez has used her dual experience as a starting point for the exploration of culture through writing. 

Full Bio

Gloria Evangelina Anzaldua

Gloria Evangelina Anzaldua

K. Kendall, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Scholar of Chicana feminism, cultural theory, and queer theory. She combines autobiography, poetry, historical narratives and myths.  

Full Bio

Read Books and eBooks @MiraCosta Library

Latinx and Chicanx History Films @ MiraCosta Library

More Latinx Displays at the MiraCosta Library

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos

J Mndz, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Silvia Mendez

Silvia Mendez

US Department of Agriculture, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

LatinX Focused Databases