Did you know today is the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM)?
We know what you’re probably thinking: “But today is September 15…” Yep! This particular cultural observation begins halfway through September and ends next month on October 15. That’s because its origin story dates back to 1968 when U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson established the United States’ first-ever Hispanic Heritage Week. Originally, the kickoff date was selected because many Latin American countries celebrate their independence on or near September 15 each year. Later, in 1989, Hispanic Heritage Week was extended to span a full month, starting on its original date in mid-September.
So, now you know the backstory. But what is HHM for? What does it symbolize today? Since its inception, HHM has been intended to celebrate “the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.”
For us here at La Paz, although we celebrate and elevate Latino culture year-round, HHM provides a catalyst for our mission and the Latino community members and leaders we support (and who support us). Simply put, it’s one more opportunity to spotlight the incredible contributions of Chattanooga’s ever-growing Latino population.
A Few Ways We’re Celebrating
As we kick off HHM, we wanted to share a few ways we’re celebrating this year:
Red Wolves Game: The local soccer team will shoutout La Paz to celebrate the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month! Make sure to stay for the post match music and fireworks!
Saturday, September 16th | 7:30 pm | 1 Stadium Way CHI Memorial Stadium
National Voter Registration Day with CALEB: CALEB is hosting a community wide event in the East Lake neighborhood to encourage voter registration, education, and electoral participation.
Tuesday, September 19th | 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm | 3000 E 34th St East Lake Park
2023 Latino Leadership Awards: Our team is thrilled to be reinstating our annual Latino Leadership Awards this year! We’ve changed the format from a luncheon to an evening soiree with dinner and dancing, and we hope to see you there! We’re excited to say we’ve SOLD OUT tickets and tables, but you can learn more about the event here, and stay tuned for more information about this year’s winners!
Thursday, September 21st | 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm | 801 Pine Street The Westin
Noontunes: Noontunes, a free lunchtime concert series, will enliven Broad Street every Friday with local vendors, food trucks, live music and themed activities. The street party will take place from Aquarium Way to High Point Climbing Gym in the 2nd block of Broad Street.
Join us in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at Week 4! Enjoy live music by La Rumba, lunch from local food trucks, local vendors and La Paz, our nonprofit partner for this week. Noontunes is free and open for the public to attend.
Friday, September 29th | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm | 211 Broad St. Riverfront District
CFC Cause of the Match: It's the last regular home season match for Chattanooga Football Club and they're throwing a party you don't want to miss! Join us Sunday, October 1st as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. There will be music, food, celebration, fireworks, great soccer, and so much more!
The block party will be located on Chestnut St. beside Chattanooga Brewing Company . Parking will be available in the North Lot of Finley Stadium. Purchase tickets for the game HERE and use code LAPAZ23 for a $3 discount!
Sunday, October 1st | 2:00 pm | 1826 Reggie White Blvd Finley Stadium
Walk with Little Amal: The Little Amal puppet will parade through the city of Chattanooga in an effort to provide a welcoming space for the community of refugee children from different countries.
Saturday, October 7th | 3:00 pm | 201 Riverfront Pkwy Ross’ Landing
Roads to Reading Guatemalan Literacy Project Launch: In partnership with the Public Library, Chattanooga 2.0, HCS, The Enterprise Center, and WTCI, La Paz is providing families with Guatemalan heritage with books and audio-visual resources to ensure every family has what they need to support their children's early literacy. Join us for our launch and grand opening!
Monday, October 9th | 11 am - 2 pm | 4501 13th Ave. ELLA Library
Hispanic Heritage Month with the City of Chattanooga: The City of Chattanooga will host a large community event in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, filled with music, food and community activities.
Sunday, October 15th | 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm | 928 Market St Miller Park
We hope to see you there!