As an institution, the University of Hartford honors the contributions and importance of Hispanic Americans to the U.S. We celebrate the many heritages and cultures of individuals and communities whose ancestry can be traced back to Spain, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.
On Friday, Oct. 9, the President’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion will observe Hispanic Heritage Month with guest speaker Dr. Anthony De Jesús, Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work and Equitable Community Practice and Acting Director of the MSW Program at the University of Saint Joseph.
From Spanish Speaking to Latinx:
Three Afro-Puerto Ricans who Championed Inclusion
Friday, October 9
11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Dr. Anthony De Jesús will examine contemporary Latino/a/x identity through a historical analysis of three Afro-Puerto Ricans (Pedro Albizu Campos, Felicita Mendez, and Antonia Pantoja) who made significant contributions by advancing political independence, civil rights, and bilingual education as strategies for full social, cultural, and linguistic inclusion.
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More About Dr. Anthony De Jesús
Dr. Anthony De Jesús is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work and Equitable Community Practice and Acting Director of the MSW Program at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut. He received a BSW from Dominican College, a MSW from Boston University School of Social Work, and a Doctorate in Education from Harvard University. A former school social worker, he has advanced a multidisciplinary research agenda with a focus on culture and identity, access to higher education institutions, and to culturally responsive services in community based mental health, child welfare, and youth services.
More About Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage month first began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson. It was expanded to cover a 30-day period by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 and is now officially Sept. 15–Oct. 15. Mid-September was chosen because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively. Día de la Raza, which is Oct. 12, also falls within this 30-day period.