Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at Yale
A photograph of Dolores Huerta picketing Pirelli-Minetti and Sons growers in 1967 as part of the California Grape Strike. (Photo by Jon Lewis, courtesy of the Beinecke Library)
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15), also known as Latinx Heritage Month, organizations around Yale and New Haven are hosting a variety of events to celebrate Latinx communities and cultures. An exciting lineup of activities — ranging from museum tours to dancing and cocktail tasting — can be found below.
Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1–2: ¡Fiesta Latina!
Co-hosted by the Yale Peabody Museum and Junta for Progressive Action, the annual ¡Fiesta Latina! celebration brings together artists, scholars, musicians, scientists, and community leaders from across Yale and New Haven to learn from and honor the perspectives and accomplishments of the Latin American diaspora.
This year’s program of virtual events includes educational webinars, a vegan cooking demonstration, musical performances, and more. View the full schedule and register for events.
Friday, Oct. 1: ‘Barriles de Bomba’
At 4 p.m. the Yale Latino Networking Group, New Haven Museum, and Peabody Museum hosts this live virtual performance of Afro-Puerto Rican bomba music featuring traditional barril drums. Make-your-own barriles de bomba kits and a video tutorial will be provided to the first 200 registrants.
Saturday, Oct. 2: Family book club reading of ‘Planting Stories’
Wonderful Books and Where to Find Them!, a book club series for kids and caregivers sponsored by Yale Affinity Groups and the New Haven Free Public Library, celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a reading of “Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré” by Anika Aldamuy Denise.
Come for the reading and stay for the discussion. The event takes place at 11 a.m. in the Children’s Room of the New Haven Free Public Library, 133 Elm St.
Tuesday, Oct. 5: ‘AFROPERUANOS: Resiliencia y Resistencia’
At 5 p.m. the Yale Latino Networking Group and Yale African American Affinity Group hosts educator, artivist, and producer Nadia Calmet for an online workshop titled “AFROPERUANOS: Resiliencia y Resistencia.”
Calmet is a professional Peruvian folk dance artist, specializing in Afro-Peruvian dances. She will discuss Afro-Peruvian history, cultural diversity, gastronomy, and religion. She will also lead a dance demonstration of cajón, cajita, quijada (Afroperuvian instruments), Festejo, and Zamacueca.
Learn more and register for the Zoom webinar.
Wednesday, Oct. 6: Café Con Leche
All Yale employees: it’s that time again! Take a coffee break from 2–3 p.m. with the Yale Latino Networking Group and Yale Postdoctoral Association in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Join us for a virtual meet and greet, fun conversation, and trivia. The first 30 people to register will also receive a free cup of coffee and sweet treat!
Learn more and register for the event.
Friday, Oct. 8: Brews and Moves
At 5:30 p.m. join the Yale Latino Networking Group and Working Women’s Network for salsa dancing and a beer cocktail tasting with Alisa Bowens-Mercado, the founder and brewmaster of New Haven’s Rhythm Brewing Co. No prior experience is required!
Learn more, find a cocktail recipe, and register for the online event here.
Friday, Oct. 9: Noche Latina @ Yale Soccer
With games at 4 and 7 p.m., Yale Athletics hosts Noche Latina in collaboration with La Casa as part of their Latinx Heritage Month celebration. The day will include a men's and women's soccer double header, food trucks, and free t-shirts, while supplies last. Reese Stadium (75 Central Ave.) is located at Yale Bowl Complex. Parking and admission are free.
Sunday, Oct. 10: Cooking Demonstration with Barracuda Bistro & Bar
Join the Yale Latino Networking Group and Sonia Salazar, owner and chef of Barracuda Bistro & Bar, for a virtual cooking demonstration. Learn how to make Colombian empanadas. Come prepared with your own ingredients or just follow along.
The event takes place from 5–6 p.m. on Zoom. Learn more and register.
Monday, October 11: Food Truck Event
Join the Yale Latino Networking Group and Yale Police Department to support Chef Efrain Nieves, owner of Tata’s Restaurant and Food Truck. Chef Efrain has been providing authentic Puerto Rican cuisine for 13 years. The first 50 people to make a purchase at Tata’s food truck will receive free “frituras”.
The event takes place from 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. on Bristol St., behind the Yale Health Plan parking garage (55 Lock St.). Check out Tata’s menu.
Tuesday, Oct. 12: An Evening of Argentine Tango
At 5:30 p.m. join Gem Duras and Linda Mejia from Tango Sueño Academy in a virtual event exploring tango history, music, and dance, as well as tango exercises and a virtual dance class. Co-sponsored by the Yale Latino Networking Group and Future Leaders of Yale.
Learn more and register for the online event.
Wednesday, Oct. 13 and Friday, Oct. 15: A Crash Course in Colloquial Spanish
Join the Yale Latino Networking Group for a crash course in colloquial Spanish! In collaboration with the Yale Interpretation Network, these sessions will provide an opportunity to learn some basic Spanish words and phrases that can be used in everyday life.
Register for Oct. 12, 12–1 p.m. on Zoom.
Register for Oct. 15, 4–5 p.m. on Zoom.
Wednesday, Oct. 13: Peruvian Dance Marinera
From its roots in slavery, indigenous culture and Spanish Colonialism, Marinera reflects a diverse blend of Peruvian influences. Through Marinera, the art of dance is used to teach new generations the culture of Peru and share our heritage with the world. Join the Yale Latino Networking Group and cultural dance organization Marinera CT as we explore the importance and joy of Marinera and its place in Peru's history.
The event takes place on Zoom from 5–5:40 p.m. Register for the Marinera workshop.
Thursday, Oct. 14: Hispanic Heritage Month Dance Party
Grab your dancing shoes, a partner, and join the Yale Latino Networking Group from 5:30–6:30 p.m. as we celebrate the conclusion of Hispanic Heritage Month. Music will be provided by Herman Ham Entertainment Group. This event is family friendly — all are welcome!
Learn more and register for the Zoom event.
Friday, Oct. 15: Brazilian jazz performance with Isabella Mendes
At noon enjoy a performance by Isabella Mendes, a native of São Paulo whose work is rooted in Brazilian jazz and bossa nova. A musician and educator, she will share music, history and culture and hold a short Q&A at the end.
Learn more and register for the online event.
Friday, Oct. 15: Gritos y Susurros: Telling true life stories about being Latinas in today’s world
New Haven’s “Somos Latinas” storytelling troupe and Yale’s “Oye!” Latine/x spoken word poetry troupe are performing at Yale’s La Casa Cultural as part of Latine/x Heritage Month. Acclaimed storytellers and poets: Elisabeth Anton, Jezrie Marcano Courtney, Denise Santisteban, and Cynthia Rojas, have performed on national and international platforms, garnering awards and praise for the power of their art. These women tell true stories about their lives, and perform spoken word poems, that celebrate their Latinidad while challenging received perceptions of what it means to be Latina in today’s world along with ¡Oye!’s talented poet. This will be an intergenerational space of gritos y susurros. This is event is co-sponsored by the Yale Latino Networking Group and the Yale Latino Alumni Network.
The event takes place from 5:30–7 p.m. at La Casa (301 Crown St.) and on Zoom. Register for Gritos y Susurros.
Saturday, Oct. 23: Family Science Workshop
Virtual fun for the entire family! Registered New Haven Public School students can pick up a lab coat and all supplies for hands-on science experiments led by Yale graduates and Yale scientists. Presented by ARTE, Open Labs & SACNAS at Chapter at Yale.
Learn more and register for the online event (supplies are to be picked up in person).
At the Beinecke: Jon Lewis Photographs from the United Farm Workers Movement
A digital collection of photographs by Jon Lewis features scenes from the farm worker movement, the work and activities of César Chávez and Dolores Huerta, and the United Farm Workers of America’s California Grape Strike in the 1960s. View the collection.
