Hispanic Heritage Month is in full swing at SCCC, with a wide array of events designed to celebrate, educate, and advocate. Stakeholders from the student body, Cinco de Mayo committee of Liberal, SCCC Student Life and Student Services, and I&C committee worked to craft a roster of activities worthy of the observance.

The month kicked off with a panel discussion presented in tandem with Humanities Kansas, “Bilingual Voices: Latino Journalists.” This two-hour discussion grew out of work performed by SCCC’s journalism students over the summer for Humanities Kansas. Student writers and photographers presented a montage of Southwest Kansas LatinX experiences, from the struggles of immigrants in search of the American Dream to a day with the Palatero (ice cream) man. You can read these stories at Humanities Kansas at these links:

• Palatero brings Mexican summer classic to Liberal neighborhoods

• Chasing the American Dream

• Traditions celebrate womanhood

Other events planned for the month include contests for soccer kicking and jalapeno-eating, plenty of delicious food — from walking tacos to Mexican fried ice cream and mockaritas — to a multicultural fashion show. We’re also sponsoring Hispanic Pride outreach events at local elementary and middle schools.

As a Hispanic Serving Institution, we understand that our identity is inextricably intertwined with the colors and flavors of our community. And we understand that “Hispanic” does not mean just one culture or country. While the majority of the Hispanic community members in Liberal, Kansas are from Mexico, we also enjoy a rich tapestry of LatinX identities: Venezuela, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador, Colombia, the Caribbean, Brazil, Honduras, even Argentina.

We invite you to join us in exploring what’s the same, what’s different, and what is just plain beautiful in Hispanic culture this month.