PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Islanders have many opportunities to explore Latino culture through art, food and community programming this Hispanic Heritage Month.
The annual observance, held from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. This year’s Rhode Island events include exhibits featuring painted grecas, opportunities to play Mexican Lotería and chances to sample traditional Latin American foods such as pupusas and arepas.
For many organizers, the month is about more than festivals and cultural activities. It is also a time to ensure Latino communities have the opportunity to tell their own stories.
“The answer is because if we don’t tell our story, someone else will. If we don’t shape our narrative, express our Latino/Latina/Latinx pride in our way, no one else will,” states Rhode Island Latino Arts on its website, which was founded in 1988 as the state’s Hispanic Heritage Month Committee.
The organization has been a leading force behind Hispanic Heritage Month programming in Rhode Island for decades, using the annual celebration to highlight Latino history, culture and community contributions.
Food remains a centerpiece of many events. Attendees can experience dishes such as pupusas, a staple of Salvadoran cuisine, and arepas, which are popular throughout several Latin American countries. Cultural activities will also introduce visitors to traditions such as Mexican Lotería and artistic exhibits showcasing painted grecas.
Organizers say the observance also serves as a reminder of the important role Latinos play in Rhode Island’s present and future.
The month-long celebration begins Sept. 15, a date that coincides with the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Through cultural exhibits, traditional foods and community events, organizers hope Hispanic Heritage Month will give Rhode Islanders an opportunity to celebrate the diversity and contributions of Latino communities while fostering a deeper understanding of the cultures that help shape the Ocean State.