Live performances, film showings and a banquet are a part of Missouri Western State University’s celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct. 15. All events are free and open to the public.

A highlight of the month is the free Hispanic Heritage Banquet at 6 p.m. Thursday, October 9. Entertainment will be provided by Trio Aztlan, a Kansas City-based group that performs all styles of Latin folkoric music, and Mayde de Valle, a spoken word artist who was one of 20 women chosen for O Magazine’s first “O Power List.” The banquet is free, but reservations must be made by Friday, Oct. 3 by calling 816-271-4150 or emailing cme@missouriwestern.edu.

Other Hispanic Heritage Month events at Missouri Western include:

  • Teatro Luna, Tuesday, Sept. 16. Theatre group Teatro Luna describes itself as “Chicago’s first and only all-Latina theatre.” They will participate in two events on Sept. 16:
    • “Citizenry and Identity in Virtual Spaces,” a workshop focused on how students identify themselves in the “real world” compared to their identity in the social media realm. Noon, Hoff Conference Room, Blum 218.
    • “Luna UnLaced,” an audience participatory performance where the audience chooses what they want to see. 5 p.m., Potter Hall Theater.
  • Foreign Film Series, “Canela,” 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, Little Theater, Hearnes 102. A Mexican film focusing on the importance of food and family in Mexican culture.
  • Community kids movie, “Donkey Xote,” 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, Kemper Recital Hall, Spratt Hall 101. A feature-length animated adventure comedy telling the story of Don Quixote from the donkey’s perspective.
  • Documentary showing, “Black in Latin America,” 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, Blum Union, room 222. This film takes a deeper look at issues of diversity in several countries in Latin America.
  • Hispanic Heritage Banquet, 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, Enright Community Rooms, Spratt Hall 214-216.
  • Community kinds movie, “La Leyenda de la Nahuala” 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, Kemper Recital Hall, Spratt Hall 101. This animated horror comedy won the 2008 Best Animated Film Award from the Mexican Academy of Film.

Hispanic Heritage Month activities are sponsored by the Center for Multicultural Education, the Missouri Western Spanish Club, the Association of Latin American Students, the Department of English and Modern Languages, and Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc.

Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.

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