September 15 to October 15 | A national holiday celebrating the contribution of Hispanic and Latino artists, scientists, activists and human rights leaders to the United States.
Teachers: Visit the free MY HERO Lesson Plan for Hispanic Heritage Month. Includes discussion guide and learning outcomes.
MY HERO 2023 Film Festival Finalists
Hispanic and Latino community activists, educators and filmmakers are featured in this selection of short films highlighting the heroism of individuals in the United States.
Erica Fernandez, a brave and passionate young activist, defends her community from corporate polluters!
The film director, Alejandro Marquez Vela , creates a riveting and poignant narrative about the immigration crisis. This film is recommended for mature audiences - it contains strong language and violence -viewer discretion advised. PASSWORD: Jose
A Mexican-American U.S. Army soldier comes back home and has a dilemma.
MY HERO Suggested Video
"Hidden Figuras: Jovita Idár" (2018) by BESE
An educator, journalist, activist and sometimes nurse, Idár is one of the most historically significant Texans that you've never heard of. And that's no surprise.
Founded by Zoe Saldana, BESE's mission is to broaden and reshape the cultural narrative by shining light on the untold stories that reflect today’s America. We respect all identities and admire the people who have the courage to say, “this is who I am.”
MY HERO Suggested Video
"We can do something about global warming" - Nobel Laureate Mario Molina (1995 Chemistry) by Nobel Prize
Stories about Hispanic/Latino Heroes
Huerta began to see the need for agricultural workers to organize for labor rights as a teacher. Many of her students were children of migrant workers.
Dr. France Cordova is a renowned astrophysicist who has broken gender and cultural barriers. She is currently the director of the US National Science Foundation. [This story is also available in Spanish.]
Latinx artists commemorate their ancestry, honor social activists, and uphold multi-generational stories through art.
Dolores Huerta is an American labor leader and civil rights activist of Hispanic descent who, with Cesar Chavez, is co-founder of the National Farmworkers Association
"Most images I create are from memory of people I know around me. Memory forces me to move away from realism towards something truly of the artist's origin."
Remembering the legacy of Cesar Chavez Hispanic heritage hero and labor organizer (UFW) who tirelessly fought for farm workers in California.
Rafael Lopez Art for BRAVO! POEMS ABOUT AMAZING HISPANICS
The Hispanics featured in this collection come from different backgrounds and from many different countries. Celebrate their accomplishments and their contributions to a collective history and a community that continues to evolve and thrive today! (Artwork displayed with permission from the artist.)
Chavez was a civil rights activist and fought for farm workers.
A Puerto Rican poet and advocate for Puerto Rican independence.
An illustrator and artist who brings diverse characters to children's books.
A Mexican-American pioneer of the 19th Century.
Audio
Juan Leovigildo Brouwer Mezquida was born March 1, 1939 in Havana is a Cuban composer, conductor, and guitarist.
CSM Stories
MY HERO has content in English and Spanish that can be used in schools and after school programs.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Official Website of the US Government The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society.
Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature
Reading list of winners of the Américas Award, which recognizes books "...for young adults that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States. By linking the Americas, the intent is to reach beyond geographic borders, as well as multicultural-international boundaries, focusing instead upon cultural heritages within the hemisphere."
New York Times | "Francisco Toledo Embodied the Activist Soul of Oaxaca"
"The Mexican painter, who died Thursday, was as beloved for his advocacy as for his expressionistic art."
New York Times | "Does Hispanic Heritage Month Need a Rebrand?"
A look at what Hispanic Heritage Month should look like today:
"While the time period, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, is significant because seven Latin American countries celebrate their independence in that span, this association presents a complication: When dozens of countries’ traditions are meant to be represented, are any of them actually getting their due?"
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Short films curated by MY HERO International Film Festival director Wendy Milette. |
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Hero Stories curated by MY HERO General Editors Deborah Neff and Abigail Richardson. |
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Audio curated by MY HERO Audio director Stu Pearlman. |
Organizer created on 9/6/2017 9:45:20 AM by Jeanne Meyers
Last edited 10/2/2023 12:08:26 PM by Abigail Richardson
