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When Sylvia MuƱoz, current director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education (CREDE), first arrived at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ from Costa Rica in spring of 1998, she may have been considered ā€œthe one percentā€ of university staff that were Latinx. The Multicultural Center (now CREDE) was still four years away from its inception, there was no Core Curriculum language requirement, and there were no formal celebrations for Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM).

It was the idea of then-university President Fred J. Young to create a place for students to immerse themselves in Hispanic culture and language. He recruited MuƱoz to lead it, and El Centro was created. What started out of a small office in Moseley Center, organizing programming such as conversation classes and supported by MuƱoz cooking for students in her home has since grown into an expansive student center that is headquartered on the first floor of the Carlton building with its own living space and kitchen.

El Centro continues to provide space for the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ community to learn about Latinx cultures and the opportunity to practice Spanish at conversation classes. While it offers programming throughout the year, there is a particular emphasis on recognizing HHM, which ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ celebrates from Sept. 15 through Oct. 24. Some events this year were the HHM Kick-Off Festival, Noche Latina and CafĆ© con Leche with Friends.

Though HHM has been recognized in the US since 1988, it was not celebrated at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ until the early 2000s, in the early days of El Centro. According to MuƱoz, the HHM Kick-Off, a vibrant start to the month with foods and music from various Hispanic cultures, and the Perspectivas panel, a deliberate dialogue on Latinx identity in collaboration with the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, are two of the longest-running events.

ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s celebration of HHM will conclude on Friday with the ninth annual Gala Latina, an event featuring Hispanic food, music, and a celebration of Latinx achievement. On the origin of Gala Latina, MuƱoz said she wanted to create a space to ā€œcelebrate not just the people who identify as Latinx-Hispanic but also ā€¦ those folks that research, that uplift, that celebrate the identity as well.ā€

Each year awards are given at the gala celebrating the academic excellence, leadership, service, and art of students, as well as staff who promote the visibility of and support the Latinx community.

ā€œOne of the nice aspects about Gala Latina is that yes, it centers the Latinx-Hispanic identity and culture, but itā€™s open to anybody,” saidĀ MuƱoz. “All of our programs are open to anybody who wants to attend and anybody who wants to learn about these identities.ā€

In terms of expanding HHM programming, MuƱoz said, ā€œI always believe that itā€™s not about quantity. Itā€™s about going deeper into the programs that we have.ā€ She emphasized the importance of ensuring that each program, even if it is a ā€œfun cultural celebration,ā€ is educational.

ā€œItā€™s the one community that keeps on growing,ā€ MuƱoz said of the Latinx community at ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ, which at 7.2% of the undergraduate population is the largest minority group at the school. ā€œAs they continue to grow, they continue to bring a different type of diversity that we all need to learn about. I learn from students all the time. I think thatā€™s the beauty of any identity.ā€

Gala Latina will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24 on the second floor of LaRose Commons. Attire is semi-formal.

The booths provided an opportunity for alumni to share their ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ stories on camera in 10-15 minute interviews, which are to be preserved in the University Archives. In total, 23 interviews were recorded across three locations: the Black Community Room in Moseley, the ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ Black Alumni Network Tailgate and at Belk Library.

The History and Memory Committee aims to find stories that are not currently reflected in the archives. While the committee was created in 2020 with Black history in mind, Kelly Policelli, committee co-chair and coordinator of University Archives & Special Collections, says they want begin branching out to other areas, including the LGBTQ community and other minority groups that have been historically underrepresented on campus.

ā€œItā€™s also just fun,ā€ Policelli said. ā€œI think itā€™s important for our committee especially, because we are working on some very hard histories, to sometimes stop and just celebrate some of the students, the stories, and the experiences that ĀŅĀ׏Óʵ students have had.ā€

While the committee often researches and tells stories about the more challenging aspects of ĀŅĀ׏Óʵā€™s history, they believe it is equally important to highlight achievement.