GAINESVILLE - The Latino Student Association (LSA) and the Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) office at the University of North Georgia recently welcomed guest speaker Javier Chavez to the Gainesville Campus in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Chavez is the multicultural liaison and relationship banker for BB&T Gainesville. He is also a Peruvian native and an impactful leader in the Latino community. He founded and serves as president of King of Kings Ministries Association, a Christian non-profit organization that works with the most under-privileged families in Peru, reaching the poorest areas of the city, planting feeding centers, developing after school programs, and providing spiritual and psychological assistance to families.
He spoke to more than 80 UNG students about the power of perseverance and determination.
“Heritage months give students an opportunity to share and celebrate their culture. Broader sense, heritage months offer all of us an opportunity to learn, grow, connect and become truly global citizens,” said Robert L. Robinson,director of MSA.
Each year, the United States observes National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on Sept. 15 and ending on Oct. 15. It was enacted into law on Aug. 17, 1988.
Sept. 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept.18, respectively.
The LSA and MSA will be hosting another cultural event on the Gainesville campus on Oct. 30. In partnership with the Debate and Forensics Interpretation Club and the Center for Global Engagement, the Great Latino Debate will be held at 10 a.m. in the Martha T. Nesbitt building. The all Spanish-speaking debate, one of the only of its kind in the country, will award cash prizes to its top orators.
For more information about MSA, including details of upcoming events, visithttp://ung.edu/multicultural-student-affairs/.
