September 1, 2023
Northland Community & Technical College invites the local community to the college for a slate of events in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States.
“This is the launch of what we envision to be an annual celebration marking Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Dr. Sandy Kiddoo, President of Northland. “We are a nation of immigrants, and our progress and success as a country depends on our collective efforts; we know that we have new Americans from several Hispanic countries that we want to welcome into our communities. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is just one way we hope to build a stronger, closer community and highlight our common humanity.”
Northland will host a range of events at the Thief River Falls campus from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, beginning with a book giveaway. Starting Sept. 15, stop by campus to pick up a free copy of “Bless Me, Ultima.” A book discussion will take place on Oct. 10 at the campus library, and a screening of the film — with free concessions — is scheduled for Oct. 12 in the campus theater.
“Through our work with community and industry partners, we learned that Thief River Falls is becoming increasingly diverse,” said Kirsten Michalke, Dean of Workforce Development and event organizer. “So we asked ourselves ‘What can we do to celebrate diversity and learn about fellow community members?’ We view this as an exciting way to learn about other cultures directly from those within our community. Community activities and food will bring people together to celebrate and learn about other cultures.”
The month-long celebration concludes with a community feast, “A Seat at the Table,” on Saturday, Oct. 14. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy good food and music, as well as learn about Hispanic heritage and traditions directly from community members who are originally from Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. Thanks to a generous grant from the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, there is no cost to participate in this year’s events.
To view the entire calendar of planned events, visit www.northlandcollege.edu/hispanic-heritage-month. All events are free and open to the community. Check back throughout the month as more opportunities are added. Area businesses and leaders are also encouraged to contact Kirsten Michalke to inquire about collaboration opportunities: call 218-683-8647 or email kirsten.michalke@northlandcollege.edu.