UNMC will kick off Hispanic Heritage Month with free music, food and salsa dancing lessons. Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the history, culture and contributions of Hispanic-Americans every year from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.
The Student Life Inclusion and Diversity Office will begin the celebrations on Sept. 16 with Salsa on the Green at the Ruth and Bill Scott Student Plaza. El Arepon Venezuelan Food, a local food truck, will begin serving food at 5 p.m., with free food provided for the first 50 people. The Nebraska Salsa Scene Dance Studio will provide free salsa dancing lessons at the UNMC ice rink from 6 to 7 p.m. The celebration is open to all med center students, faculty and staff.
The event is part of the UNMC Passport Program, hosted by SLIDO. In the passport program, students are encouraged to attend designated events throughout the school year to participate in different cultural activities. At the end of the year, students will earn prizes for attending events.
Events eligible for the passport program will be posted on ENGAGE throughout the year. Other planned events for the fall semester include a trip to El Museo Latino on Oct. 7 and an October Diwali celebration (date to be determined), recognition of Native American Heritage Month in November and a food drive in December.