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BRISTOL, R.I. — Hispanic Heritage Month is underway at �鶹ɫ��Ƭ, with students gathering on Sept. 18 for Noche Latina, a celebration of Hispanic and Latin American cultures through food, dance, and community.

Held in the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business atrium, Noche Latina was hosted by the Hispanic and Latinx Student Association (HALSA) in collaboration with the Multicultural Student Union (MSU), World Organization of Cultural Clubs, and Health and Wellness Educators. The event opened �鶹ɫ��Ƭ’s celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.

For HALSA members, the evening offered an opportunity to celebrate their heritage while sharing their cultures with the broader �鶹ɫ��Ƭ community.

“This means a lot because we get to share our heritage and show parts of our culture to the Roger campus,” said HALSA’s Public Relations Officer Shantie Deida, a senior Sustainability Studies major on the Ecology & Environmental Management track and Marine Biology minor from West Haven, Conn. “It’s good to include anybody and everybody to share the culture.”

The event also provided a sense of belonging for students who identify with Hispanic and Latin American cultures. 

HALSA President Samanta Arevalo, a senior Marketing and Public Relations double major and Public Humanities & Arts minor from Cranston, R.I., said the organization has helped her find community at �鶹ɫ��Ƭ.

“It’s hard sometimes to find a community, but being in HALSA helps me feel at home,” Arevalo said. “It’s having events like this to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month that has been a great thing since my freshman year.”

Dance lessons were a highlight of Noche Latina. Junior Instructor Mandie Vega-Ayala, who is Puerto Rican, returned to �鶹ɫ��Ƭ for a second year to lead students through merengue, bachata, and salsa.

For Vega-Ayala, teaching dance is about more than learning the steps. She said understanding the cultural context and traditions behind the dances is an important part of the experience.

“One thing we really strive for is not only showing you how to dance, but giving you the why,” Vega-Ayala said. “Why we are doing it, and the importance of being diverse.”

Noche Latina is among the events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at �鶹ɫ��Ƭ through Oct. 15, giving students opportunities to celebrate their cultures while inviting the wider university community to learn and participate. Students can follow  and  on social media for updates on upcoming programs.