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.”
“That openness led me to find community, most meaningfully through Ballet Folklórico Mexicano De Georgetown. The club was open-access, with no auditions or lengthy applications, just open practices and the opportunity to interact with parts of my culture I had not fully explored.”
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
After decades away from the classroom, Federico Sainz de la Maza (SFS’26) has returned to SFS with a perspective shaped by experience and a curiosity that has only deepened over…
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
“Seeing Día de los Muertos celebrated at Georgetown, it made me want to get more involved with the community, not only to learn but also to help pass that experience on to future Georgetown students,” he said. “It’s helped me learn more about myself and where I come from. I’m very thankful to have had these opportunities at Georgetown.”