Fordham University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) is hosting events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month alongside many other Fordham organizations, most notably the Rose Hill Latin American student organization, El Grito. Hispanic Heritage Month began on Sept. 15 and continues through Oct. 15.
As one of their first events, OMA held a coffee tasting called Sabor de Café with coffees from Columbia, Mexico and the Dominican Republic for students to try. The event also had teas from Argentina and Peru, along with hot chocolate from Puerto Rico and Costa Rica. OMA held the Sabor de Café at both the Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses, drawing in over 150 students at each.
Brianna Perez, GSE ‘25 and an intern for OMA, explained that the cafe events were very successful for student engagement and allowed those who came to experience flavors of Latin America through drinks and traditional pastries. “Whether students were big coffee fans or just wanted to try something new, it was a great way to enjoy and celebrate the warmth and richness of Latine culture,” Perez commented. They explained that they plan to continue engaging with students through interactive activities and discussions about the significance of Hispanic Heritage, as well as through more hands-on activities.
On Friday, Sept. 27, OMA held an excursion event for Hispanic Heritage Month, bringing 50 Fordham students to a New York Yankees game including students from El Grito. The game is an annual trip. El Grito Vice President Joselin Carvente, GSB ’26, explained that the attendees received a special Yankees hat with the Latin American flag of their choice on it.
For El Grito, the Yankees game was the second of three excursions they are hosting for Hispanic Heritage Month. The first was an outing to Chocobar Cortes. Chocobar Cortes is a Puerto Rican restaurant that incorporates chocolate into all of their meals, allowing people to experience a creative take on traditional Puerto Rican food.
The last excursion will be a trip to see “Hamilton” on Broadway.
“This is the first time we’re organizing this event, and we’re thrilled to offer students the opportunity to experience this groundbreaking musical, which highlights the contributions of immigrants and features a diverse cast,” explained Carvente.
In addition to their excursions and collaborative events with OMA or other student organizations, El Grito plans to engage with students throughout the rest of Hispanic Heritage Month using social media and newsletters to keep students up to date on event offerings, cultural highlights and volunteer opportunities. They also expressed that the inclusion of Hispanic food and music is important for student engagement.
“We believe great food and lively entertainment are key to creating a warm, inviting atmosphere that makes everyone feel connected,” said Carvente.
Upcoming events include Tipico Night, Rep Your Heritage, Fill Your Bag, Quinceañera and Dia de los Muertos. OMA has expressed particular excitement about the Tipico Night and Dia de los Muertos. “These events offer a deep dive into Hispanic traditions and are expected to be meaningful and enjoyable for everyone involved,” Perez explained.
Carvente said that El Grito is especially looking forward to the Rep Your Heritage event, as this is the first year they are holding a larger celebration. “Previously, it was a virtual event held on our Instagram page, but we wanted to transform it into something more impactful and engaging,” she commented.
Carvente explained that holding larger cultural events is one of El Grito’s goals for the future as well. “One of our aspirations is to host a cultural festival that showcases a variety of Hispanic traditions, music and performances, providing a platform for students to share their heritage,” she said. The club also hopes to create collaborative events with other cultural organizations on campus to further promote inclusivity and interaction amongst different communities. OMA has expressed that a future goal of theirs is to bring in guest speakers or performers to share their expertise on Hispanic cultures and history.
For now, both groups stated that they hope that students, Hispanic or not, develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of Hispanic culture throughout the heritage month events. “For Hispanic students, we aim to create a sense of pride and belonging by celebrating our heritage in ways that resonate with their personal experiences. For non-Hispanic students, our goal is to provide meaningful opportunities to learn about our rich traditions, values and contributions, fostering a sense of cultural awareness and inclusivity,” stated Carvente.
Students who are interested in further information about upcoming events can check the Instagram pages of OMA and El Grito, @fordhamoma and @elgritofordham.
