2020 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

Friends,

For more than three decades, beginning in 1988, Americans have observed National Hispanic Heritage Month during the 30-day period of Sept. 15–Oct. 15.

In particular, Sept. 15 holds a special level of significance in the Hispanic community because it commemorates the anniversary of the independence of the countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively. We also think of our Brazilian community during this time of the year, as they commemorated their independence on Sept. 7. Later in our heritage month, countries such as Belize (Sept. 21) and Spain (Oct. 12) also celebrate their independence.

As this month of recognition begins, I would like to invite you all to join our campus community as Andrews University celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month under this year's theme: “Unidos in the time of COVID-19.”

The global COVID-19 pandemic has affected and continues to affect each one of us in a variety of ways. As we discussed during our online Social Consciousness summit this past April, the pandemic has sadly had a disproportionate impact on Latina/o and African American communities. In spite of all of the difficulties and hardships that could work to divide us, our Hispanic Heritage Month planning committee aims to celebrate the strength and resolve that persists within the Latina/o community and which pushes and inspires that community to continue to endure and thrive as a people. You can find more detailed information about Andrews University’s celebration on our Hispanic Heritage Month website.

As a special kickoff for our Hispanic Heritage Month, I would like to highlight a co-curricular opportunity that will take place tomorrow on the Andrews University Facebook page and YouTube channel. The Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) Campus Center co-curricular series will kick off tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. with a program called “The Brown Church: An Interview with Daniel Duffis.” Born on the Colombian island of San Andrés, Daniel currently works for the Department of World Mission at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, where he completed his MDiv (2016) and is also pursuing his PhD in mission and intercultural theology.

This conversation with Pastor Duffis has been sparked by the recently released book titled “Brown Church: Five Centuries of Latina/o Social Justice, Theology, and Identity” written by Robert Chao Romero. Romero describes the “Brown Church” as “a prophetic ecclesial community of Latinas/os that has contested racial and social injustice in Latin America and the United States for the past 500 years. As such, Brown Church is a multivalent category, encompassing ethnic, historical, theological, spiritual, and sociopolitical dimensions. In every instance of racial and social injustice in Latin America and the United States over the centuries, the Brown Church has arisen to challenge the religious, socioeconomic, and political status quo...The Brown Church has done all of this in the name of Jesus.”

In this conversation, Pastor Duffis will highlight Romero’s uplifting of theologians such as Bartolomé de Las Casas, Gustavo Gutiérrez, Justo González, Ada María Isasi-Díaz, Elizabeth Conde-Frazier and E. René Padilla who have challenged narrow and unbiblical views of the gospel and proclaimed that Jesus has come to save, redeem and transform every aspect of our lives and the world.

On October 2 and 3, we are excited to have José Rojas join us virtually for the Proximity Vespers and Latino Sabbath services. As you may know, Pastor Rojas is certainly one of the pre-eminent voices in Adventism who has helped to shape the spiritual journey of Latina/o Seventh-day Adventists around the globe.

Here is a schedule of other events planned for Hispanic Heritage Month:

Monday, Sept. 14—Lunes Latino: Bonfire
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Alumni House
Campus COVID-19 guidelines on group gatherings will be honored

Tuesday, Sept. 15—Unidos Through COVID-19 (international edition)
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Buller 250
Zoom link: andrews.zoom.us/j/91824562837
Looking into the impact of COVID-19 on students both here and abroad

Tuesday, Sept. 15—The Brown Church: An Interview with Daniel Duffis
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Online
Program link: Andrews University Facebook page and YouTube channel
This is the kick-off of the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) Campus Center co-curricular series

Saturday, Sept. 19—Movie Night: Selena
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Location: Newbold Auditorium
Campus COVID-19 guidelines on group gatherings will be honored

Tuesday, Sept. 22—Unidos Through Ethnicity
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Buller 250
Zoom link: andrews.zoom.us/j/91824562837
Discussing the discrepancy between race and ethnicity and how to identify as a Latino

Tuesday, Sept. 29—Unidos Through Politics
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Buller 250
Zoom link: andrews.zoom.us/j/91824562837
Discussing the importance of the Latino voice during elections

Friday, Oct. 2—Latino Vespers (Proximity)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: PMC
Speaker: José Rojas

Saturday, Oct. 3—Latino Sabbath (Makarios)
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Seminary Chapel
Speaker: José Rojas

Monday, Oct. 5—Lunes Latino: Religion in the Life of Latinos
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: PMC Commons
Campus COVID-19 guidelines on group gatherings will be honored

Monday, Oct. 5–Friday, Oct. 9—Spirit Week

Monday—Flag day
Tuesday—Celebrity day
Wednesday—Telenovela day
Thursday—Spanish meme day
Friday—Traje típico/National Outfit

Friday, Oct. 9—Makarios Vespers
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: TBA

Saturday, Oct. 10—Noche Latina/Latin Night
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Tent outside Marsh Hall

I look forward to celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with all of you as we take the opportunity as a campus to celebrate, affirm and appreciate the contributions of Hispanics to our campus, our country, and our world.

Best,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for Diversity & Inclusion