Celebrating Latine Culture and Hispanic Heritage at Georgetown
Georgetown community members connect with Latine culture and Hispanic heritage through teaching, research and scholarship and by building community around shared identity and experiences. We honor the vibrant histories, languages, traditions and values that transcend borders and unite Latine people across the Americas and Caribbean islands.
National Hispanic Heritage Month
The movement to celebrate the contributions of the Latin American community in the United States was introduced in 1968 and has since transformed into a nationally recognized, monthlong commemoration of Latine culture from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage
Community Voices
“We did translational research to improve genetic counseling and testing uptake in Latino women at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. That helped cement that what I do for patients is not in vain. There are patients who need people like me in medicine, who need my cultural background and my Spanish-speaking skills.”
“Thinking about the promise of America, for me, the promise is in my baby. The promise is in my daughter and in the opportunities that this degree will be able to offer us.”
“At Casa Pueblo, I saw how these theories translate into practice: a grassroots organization leveraging science (ciencia), culture (cultura) and community (comunidad) to achieve tangible change. This experience deepened my understanding of how bottom-up initiatives can succeed where top-down policies fall short.”
Increasing Latine Representation in Medicine
Students in the School of Medicine formed the Medical Spanish Initiative to train future doctors to use Spanish while working with patients to meet the growing demand for Spanish-speaking physicians in the United States.
Our Hilltop Community
Claudia Arias-Cirinna joins Georgetown as associate vice president and dean of students, bringing with her more than 25 years of leadership in student affairs at universities across the U.S.
In Latin America, Jeremy Suzuki (SFS’28) not only deepened his passion for the region and the Spanish language but also related to his own experiences coming from an immigrant family.
Engaging Latin America
The Georgetown Americas Institute is a platform for dialogue, research and impact around the key challenges facing Latin America and the hemisphere. Subscribe to “Y esto no es todo” for a daily Spanish-language podcast on current events around the world.
Researching Latin America
From the Archives
In 1978, a Puerto Rican woman named Aida Berio (SFS’52) made headlines for filing a lawsuit for racial discrimination in Washington, DC. After the court’s final decision favored Berio, DC Mayor Marion Barry nominated her as director of the district’s Office of Latino Affairs.
A Testimonial
“Hispanic Heritage Month is a moment of introspection for me. As a DACA-mented individual, I constantly find myself trying to prove my worth to this country and tend to forget that my heritage is what makes me unique—and not a sealed piece of paper. And so, during this month, I celebrate all the contributions that the immigrant community brings to the country we call home.”