National Hispanic Heritage Month

2022

As an organization that serves many children, youth, and families of Hispanic descent, we proudly celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month and believe that Latinx voices, dreams, and successes matter now more than ever.

PLN Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month takes place every year from September 15 to October 15, to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latino community. The month also celebrates the independence days of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15th, Mexico on September 16th, and Chile on September 18th.

When it first began in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson, Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week” before it became extended to a month during President Ronald Reagan’s term in 1988.

On September 15, 2022, President Biden issued a presidential proclamation regarding National Hispanic Heritage Month, stating “Our deepest values have been informed by the love of family and faith that is at the core of so many Hispanic communities… these contributions help us realize the promise of America for all Americans…Let us give thanks to the many generations of Hispanic leaders who have helped build this country and continue to fight for equality and justice,” Biden said. “Let us pledge to invest in the next generation of Hispanic men and women who hold the destiny of our Nation in their hands.”

Throughout this time, we will be updating this page about how our charter schools are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month this year.

PLN Staff Recommendations: Cultural Hispanic Events in Los Angeles

Muertos Artwalk:

Saturday, October 8, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Celebrating its 7th year, the Olvera Street Muertos Artwalk brings together over 35 artists from the greater Los Angeles community selling original artwork, jewelry, accessories, clothing, face painting & more. The Muertos Artwalk is a hand-curated show designed to highlight the work of local artists. Shop small and shop local by supporting these artists, and the merchants on Olvera Street. This family-friendly event is open to all and helps to create awareness about the traditional events hosted each year by the Olvera Street Merchants Association Foundation
For more information: click here

Day of the Dead Festival (Dia de los Muertos Festival)

October 25 – November 2, 2022
For over 35 years, the merchants on Olvera Street have celebrated Dia de los Muertos. The celebration has evolved to incorporate the pre-Columbian, Aztec, Mayan and Catholic rituals surrounding death. Each night, a vibrant and colorful procession sets the stage for our ceremony. Dia de los Muertos is, in fact, a celebration of life – it is not a time to mourn our loved ones, rather it is a time to remember the lives they led and the many things they enjoyed during that life. Death is a part of life, and so we honor it. Dia de los Muertos at Olvera Street is the only celebration of its kind in Los Angeles – A nine (9) day festival, with a nightly procession, community altars on display, and entertainment
Las Ofrendas Outdoor Altar Display, Novenario Procession, Face painting, Theatrical performance of La Danza de la Muerte, Los Muertos 5k Event, and more!
For more information: click here

PLN Staff Recommendations: Hispanic-Owned Businesses!

Olvera Street Shops & Restaurants:

Myrosa Enterprises: Home decor, fashion, and souvenir specialty shop
Olvera Candle Shop: Candles, incense, incense holders, and sage specialty shop
La Luz del Día Restaurant: Authentic Michoachan Mexican food

PLN Staff Recommendations: Books by Hispanic Authors!

Any works by Isabel Allende

Poems by Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz

Rain of Gold by Victor Villasenor

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Children’s Picture Books:

Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle

Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

Listening With My Heart by Gabi Garcia

Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Menedez

Be Bold! Be Brave! 11 Latinas Who Made U.S. History by Naibe Reynoso

Just Ask! by Sonia Sotomayor

Islandborn by Junot Diaz

The Piñata That The Farm Maiden Hung by Samantha R. Vamos

The Cazuela That The Farm Maiden Stirred by Samantha R. Vamos

Little Taco Truck by Tanya Valentine

Tia Fortuna’s New Home by Ruth Behar

Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal

Isabel and Her Colores Go to School by Alexandra Alessandri

PLN Staff Highlight: Moises Carillo

What do you do?
My name is Moises Carrillo, and I support in the After-School Program as the Site Supervisor.

Who do you work with?
The age group population that I work with is TK to 5th grade.

Personal favorite quote?
I have always told my students -even as they grow older- that we need three things to be successful in life. They are great talent, good work ethic, and a positive personality. What good does it do to have two good skills and fail in one? All three have to come together. Repeating this to my students has helped them become great individuals in their own lives and those around them.

What Does National Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?

This month has significance to me as I am from El Salvador. Coming from parents that migrated to the U.S. from El Salvador to give my siblings and I a better opportunity gives me the same hope to bring to the families I work with on a day-to-day basis. Like many of my colleagues at Para Los Niños, I work directly with children and families that come from different parts of Central America, Mexico and the rest of Latin America, which allows me to connect with them in a deeper level. Among our students, I can make connections with them by the language spoken, food, traditions and much more. I do my best to encourage students to seek and connect with their roots and be proud of where they come from. I feel privileged to work for an organization that services families similar to myself, and being part of the After-School Program allows me to make that impact greater.

How PLN Schools Have Been Celebrating NHHM

In honor of NHHM, here are some ways some of our sites have been celebrating:

CMS students were separated into different groups to create and present an informative poster on a Hispanic/Latino country; they also chose an influential Hispanic person in their lives to write a short biography for, including their impact on them.
Also at CMS, the advisory with the best attendance will be receiving conchas, traditional Mexican sweet bread roll, at the end of National Hispanic Heritage Month.
At CES, fourth graders have been highlighting and honoring Hispanic/Latinx Poets through an activity titled, “A Poem in My Pocket”. Every day, teachers have introduced a poet and a poem that students keep to use as inspiration to create their own collection of poems.