Celebrating Latino Heritage Month

iowa department of human rights

Office of Latino Affairs Newsletter


Latino Heritage Month

Latino Heritage Month


About Latino Heritage Month


LatinIowan

During September 15 and October 15 Iowa and the United States recognize and celebrate the rich heritage, cultures and the contributions made by Latinos during Latino Heritage Month. 

This celebration started in September, 1968 when President Lyndon B. Johnson was authorized by Congress to proclaim national Hispanic Heritage Week, and directed that this week included September 15 and 16 to celebrate the anniversaries of independence for the Latin American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Mexico. National Hispanic Heritage Month was established in 1988. 

Terms: Latino, Latinx and Hispanic

Latinos: are classified as individuals living in the U.S. whose ancestors originate from the Caribbean Islands, Central America, Mexico, and South America, all countries that were colonized by Spaniards and Portuguese. Latinos speak Romance languages: French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. Latinos are the largest ethnic minority population in Iowa and in the U.S. 

Latinx and Latine are gender-neutral term that is used by some as an alternative to Latino/Latina/Latin@.

The term Hispanic refers to people whose heritage is derived from Spanish speaking countries - the term is about language and doesn’t include people from Brazil who speak Portuguese, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin who speak French.


Latino Heritage Month Proclamation


Latino Heritage Month Proclamation

2022 Iowa Latino Hall of Fame


2022 Iowa Latino Hall of Fame

 

2022 Iowa Latino Hall of Fame

Induction Ceremony and Reception

Date: Saturday, October 15, 2022

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Location: Des Moines Art Center (sponsor)

Virtual Option: The ceremony will be livestreamed via the Commission's Facebook Page


Iowa Latino Gala


Iowa Latino Gala

Latino Festivals and Celebrations in Iowa


Celebrando Siouxland

Celebrando Siouxland

Garden Fiesta - Clear Lake

Garden Fiesta

Festival Latino of Cedar Rapids

Festival Latino of Cedar Rapids

¡Fiesta! Orange City

¡Fiesta!

Mexican Independence Day Parade & Fiesta - Quad Cities

Mexican Independence Day Parade & Fiesta

Iowa's Latino Heritage Festival - Des Moines

Iowa Latino Festival

Clive Latino Festival

Clive Latino Festival

Dubuque Latinx Fiesta

Dubuque Latinx Fiesta

Midwest Chingona Fest

Midwest Chingona Fest

Latino Voices Together Gala

Latino Voices Together 2022: Presented by The Latino Political Network