Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations

  In honor of Hispanic Heritage month, various clubs and organizations in the Kansas City area celebrate as they raise funds for social programs such as the government program Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and similar projects.

  Lauren Orozco, president of the Latinx Student Union, organizes the fundraising efforts for the club’s involvement in the Cambio para Cambio (Change for Change) fundraising competition. 

  Held annually by the Greater Kansas City Hispanic Development Fund, Cambio para Cambio raises funds for DACA and undocumented student scholarships at UMKC. 

  The Latinx Student Union has raised more money than any other group in the competition for four years in a row, and Orozco hopes to make this year the fifth. 

  “Although we have tons of support from the Hispanic and Latinx community in Kansas City and at UMKC, we would love to see some support from the chancellor and more Roos on campus,” Orozco said.

  Senior Ricardo Alvarado, another student involved in the Latinx Student Union, said the tradition creates ties with students and the KC community. 

  “During the Hispanic Heritage month, we go to Latin events, festivals and we throw our own food events while we collaborate with local latin businesses,” Alvarado said. “It’s a really good month to communicate and celebrate with each other, while we do great things for other people like us”.

  The Latinx Student Union will kick off its fundraising celebration Sept. 15th, 6-8 p.m. at the University Playhouse. Their next event will be an Excelencia Scholarship breakfast Sept. 29th, 7-10 a.m. at the Student Union.

Read on to learn about other Hispanic Heritage month events this weekend in the KC area.

CoCo Movie Night

  In honor of Hispanic Heritage month The Union Programming Board will screen Pixar’s CoCo. The event will take place at the Student Union Sept. 15 from 6-8 p.m. Anyone can attend, and interested students can RSVP through the RooGroups calendar.

Fiesta Hispana

  Put on by the greater Kansas City Hispanic Heritage community, this free event occurs throughout the entire weeknd. Go down to the Barney Ellis Plaza on Friday from 5-11 p.m., Saturday from 12-11 p.m., or Sunday 12-9 p.m. to dance at the Fiesta Hispana. With its multiple food vendors and over 20 different musical acts, this event is one of the largest celebrations of Hispanic Heritage in Kansas City. For more details, visit this link.