Santa Monica Commemorates Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15, 2023 2:02 PM

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — On Tuesday night, the City Council proclaimed September 15 to October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month in Santa Monica. Mayor Davis conducted a reading of a proclamation and remarks were provided from Samohi teachers, students and representatives.

“Latinas/os have been part of and are valued in our community,” Mayor Gleam Davis said. “While we recognize that the indigenous languages of the Gabrielino-Tongva and Chumash were first spoken for thousands of years on the land we occupy, the Spanish language is ingrained in the name or our city and frequented streets, from the original Mexican 1839 land grant name, Rancho San Vicente y Santa Mónica, to Pico Boulevard, San Vicente Boulevard and Montana Avenue. Our city has long been enriched by the contributions, heritage, and traditions of Latinas/os and will continue to be well into the future.”

In addition to the proclamation, the Santa Monica Public Library is offering family-friendly activities to commemorate the month, including:

Hispanic Heritage Month Booklists
Celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of people from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America, explore these great titles at the library or recommend them to friends and family.

Hispanic Heritage Month Kids Take & Make Kit: Quetzal Bird
This kit, available now, includes supplies to create a quetzal — a bird that lives in the tropical forests of Central America that was sacred to the ancient Maya and Aztec peoples — as well as a learning sheet to guide further discovery. Pick up at the Main Library Youth Services desk and at all branch locations, while supplies last. For more information click here.

Mystery Book Group Discussion: “Velvet Was the Night” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia 
Tuesday, September 19, 7 to 8 p.m. Join the Library via Zoom to discuss “Velvet Was the Night.” In 1970s Mexico City, Maite, a secretary with a penchant for romance novels, searches for her missing neighbor, Leonora, a beautiful art student. Contact library@santamonica.gov for the Zoom link. For more information click here.

Cuentos para pequeños
Jueves, 21 de septiembre, 10:30 a 11 a.m. en Pico Branch Library, The Annex. Disfrute de cuentos, rimas y canciones en español. Para niños de 2-5 años de edad. Para más información, haga clic aquí.

Hispanic Heritage Month Movie Screening: "Half Brothers” (2020)
Tuesday, September 26, 5 to 7 p.m. at The Annex at the Pico Branch library. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a screening of this uplifting comedy about an uptight Mexican businessman forced to take a cross-country road trip with his goofy American half-sibling. Followed by a Q&A with the film's writer Eduardo Cisneros. For more information click here.

Stories from Latin America with Olga Loya
Friday, September 29, 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. at the Pico Branch library. Celebrate the magic of los cuentos (stories) with folktales about self-image, and discover how myths from long ago help us understand the present. Learn about Latina/o culture as you learn about yourself. For more information click here.

Hispanic Heritage Month Teen Take & Make Kit: Ceramic Calaveras
Available beginning Monday, October 2. Learn about the cultural significance of calaveras and decorate one of your own. Registered teen volunteers can earn one hour of community service by decorating a calavera and adding it to Main Library’s ofrenda for Día de los Muertos. Pick up at the Main Library Youth Services desk and at all branch locations, while supplies last. For ages 11-18. For more information click here.

Media Contact

Tati Simonian
Public Information Officer
Tati.Simonian@santamonica.gov

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