Yuk tunal, nukunawan! 

Thank you all for a wonderful start to the Fall!  

Today I want to take a moment to celebrate Latinx/Latine History month! During this time of the month, we celebrate the rich diversity, heritage, culture, and history of the Latinx/e Community. This time of year, Sept 15th to Oct 15th, also coincides with the Independence days of several countries in Latino America also known to my people as Manawara.

In honor of Latinx/e History Month you will find an attached list of books that we welcome you to explore. Each of these books were selected with assistance from Arantxa Gallegos from South Seattle College and have a wide range of authors & interests. 

The Office of DEIA in collaboration with our Theater Department, The Foundation, and The Seattle Latino Film Festival will be hosting Films for viewing here at Shoreline! These films were reviewed by the Office of DEIA and will be a part of the Seattle Latino Film Festival line up this year. A special shout out to Tony Doupe & Jorge Enrique Gonzales for their amazing partnership! Please consider attending, bringing family, and/or sending your classes to view this amazing opportunity. More details on films is located here.  

The Office of DEIA will also be hosting a special session on Latinx Identity through a new community gathering series in October. An official announcement with the official name and Fall quarter schedule will be shared later this week!  

During this time, you will find several identity terms floating around from Afro- Latino & Indigenous Latino all the way to Tejano. All of these identities tackle the question of who we are and what best can be used to describe us. Regardless, folks are free to use whatever term best describes themselves and be free to evolve as they change & grow. The links above provide some videos that will help you explore a variety of identity terms so please feel free to check them out!  

In El Salvador we often remind our children that as a country & region, we may be small like the ants that walk beneath our feet, individually tiny, but together there is nothing we cannot overcome.  

Happy Latinx/e Heritage Month!  

Brian Crisanto Ramos M.A. (He/Him)

Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility 

Pipil, Lenca, & Mayan Nations