Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month resources at Pitt and in Pittsburgh

National Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration that honors the culture, contributions and history of Americans whose heritage can be traced back to more than 20 Latin American countries, including those in Central and South America and the Caribbean.

In 2018, Gina Garcia brought that celebration to the University of Pittsburgh. The associate professor in Pitt’s School of Education and expert on Hispanic Serving Institutions chaired an institution-wide committee to launch the first Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month (LHHM). In addition to on-campus events, the University partnered this year with Pittsburgh organizations, including the Latin American Cultural Center, Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Pittsburgh Opera and Carnegie Mellon University. Check out the full schedule.

Below you’ll find local resources you should know if you’re Hispanic yourself or just interested in learning more about the people, culture and countries that fit under the umbrella.

University resources and information 

These seven student-led cultural organizations foster diversity on Pitt’s campus and provide a safe space for different Latinx and Hispanic-identifying communities and supporters to celebrate their cultural richness through activities, including festivals, parties, film showings and more:

Brazil Nuts Portuguese Club

Brazil Nuts’ goal is to expose students to Brazilian culture and the Portuguese language and practice their Portuguese outside of the classroom.

Caribbean and Latin American Student Organization

The Caribbean and Latin American Student Association promotes intellectual and cultural exchanges through various activities from the Caribbean and Latin America.

Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence

Pitt's Small Business Development Center encourages immigrant entrepreneurship through free international trade and Spanish language business consulting with a dedicated expert and programming to assist small business owners with gaining access to new markets to sell into or purchase from. Questions? Reach out to Brent Rondon at brondon [at] innovation.pitt.edu.

[Read about how the SBDC supports Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs.]

Latin American Graduate Organization of Students

The Latin American Graduate Organization of Students (LAGOS) is for Latin American, Latino/a, Hispanic, Afro-Latino/a graduate and professional students.

Latino Medical Student Association

LMSA empowers students through service, mentorship and education to advocate for the health of the Latino community.

Latinx Student Association

The mission of Pitt’s Latinx Student Association is to motivate, educate, advocate and celebrate.

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

SHPE changes lives by empowering the Hispanic community through STEM awareness, access, support and development.

Spanish Club

Pitt’s Spanish Club promotes the practice of speaking Spanish.

Other Pitt events, organizations and resources

Hispanic Latino Professional Affinity Group

This professional network provides faculty and staff with resources that promote community building, mentorship and professional development.

Center for Latin American Studies

This national resource center promotes global understanding of Latin America, the Caribbean and their diverse diasporic communities through programs and initiatives for students and faculty that range in topic from preserving the Amazon rainforests to public policy reform.

Eduardo Lozano Latin American Collection

This University library collection supports the campus community and serves as a regional, national and international resource center and clearinghouse for information on Latin America.

Hispanic Languages and Literature Department

This Pitt department is about forming connections through language and offers undergraduate and graduate programs. It’s also home to the International Institute of Latin American Literature, the “oldest and most extensive academic organization dedicated to the study and promotion of research in Latin American literature.”

Latinx Connect Conference

Each March, this free conference invites students, educators, community leaders and political advocates to envision ways to empower and support thriving futures for diverse Latinx communities at local, national and global levels through dialogue.

What do we call ourselves? Pitt experts and community members weigh in: