Eduardo Chavez, grandson of Cesar Chavez, directed a documentary about his grandfather that will be shown at NECC on Oct. 3.

Northern Essex Community College is proud to have been named the first Hispanic-Serving Institution in Massachusetts by the U.S. Department of Education in 2001 and to have a student population that is 43% Hispanic.

From September 18 to October 10, 2019, the college will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of events, all of which are free and open to the public.

The celebration will highlight the cultures and contributions of American citizens who came from—or whose ancestors came from—Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

There will be cultural conversations, a walking tour focused on Lawrence’s immigrant history, led by Northern Essex Professor Rich Padova; a poetry reading by the talented Dominican American poet, Diannely Antigua, who is a graduate of Northern Essex; a showing of the movie “Hailing Cesar” presented by the director, Cesar Chavez’s grandson, Eduardo Chavez, and more.

To learn more contact, Analuz Garcia, assistant director of community & international relations, agarcia@necc.mass.edu or 978 738-7423.

Here’s a list of selected events:

Discussion: The Media is Uncultured

Wed, Sept. 18, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Center for Liberal Arts, Spurk Building, Room 209, Haverhill Campus, 100 Elliott St

Join Journalism/Communication student Jocelyn Avila-Frias for a cultural discussion.

For more information, contact Dean Amy Callahan, acallahan@necc.mass.edu, 978 556-3397

Lawrence Walking Tour: Immigration: The Fabric that Holds Lawrence Together

Wed, Sept. 25, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Meet in the lobby of the El-Hefni Allied Health & Technology Center, 414 Common St, Lawrence

Rich Padova, an instructor in the Global Studies Department and a summer historical tour interpreter at Lawrence Heritage State Park, will lead a short walking tour in Lawrence’s historic mill district along with a visit to the museum at Lawrence Heritage Park.  Rain or shine.

To register or for more information, contact Sharon McManus, smcmanus@necc.mass.edu, 978 556-3960

LatinX Networking Event

Monday, Sept. 30, 5:30 to 7 p.m.

NECC El Hefni Allied Health & Technology Center, Room 301, 414 Common St., Lawrence

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Latinx professionals in education.  Space is limited, so please register.

To register or for more information, contact Thomas A. Ortiz Jr, Enrollment Services, tortiz@necc.mass.edu

White Fund Lecture Presented by NECC: Documentary Film “Hailing Cesar”

Thur, Oct. 3, 6 p.m.

NECC’s Louise Haffner Education Center, 78 Amesbury St.,Lawrence

Director Eduardo Chavez, grandson to civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, will be in Lawrence to introduce this film in which he embarks on a journey to connect with his grandfather’s legacy. He begins work as a farm-worker, picking grapes in the field, like his father and grandfather before him, and learns first- hand the kind of work that goes into putting fruits and vegetables on people’s plates. Through his personal journey, as he reconnects with his families’ legacy, we learn about Ceasar Chavez’s plight to create equality for farm-workers as well as the current conditions that they face in the fields and back at home.

For more information, contact Analuz Garcia, agarcia@necc.mass.edu, 978 738-7423

Dominican American poet Diannely Antigua will give a reading at NECC on Oct. 9.

Poetry Reading: Diannely Antigua

Wed, Oct. 9, 2 p.m.

Pentucket Bank Lecture Hall, Spurk Building, Haverhill Campus, 100 Elliott St

Diannely Antigua, a Dominican American poet and educator, who was born and raised in Haverhill, MA, has been receiving critical acclaim for her debut poetry collection “Ugly Music” which was published this year by YesYes Books.  Antigua holds an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts: Writing from NECC, a Bachelor of Arts in English from UMass Lowell, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from New York University (NYU). Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including “Washington Square Review,” “Bennington Review”, and “The Adroit Journal”. She is the recipient of several fellowships and a nominee for the Pushcart Prize and the Best of the Net.

For more information, contact Professor Trish Portanova, pportanova@necc.mass.edu, 978 556-3379

Lunch & Learn: Entrepreneurship for All/EforAll/Epara Todos

Thur, Oct 10, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Center for Business and Accounting, Spurk Building, Room 201, Haverhill Campus, 100 Elliott St.

NECC’s Center for Business and Accounting hosts Andres Silva, program manager for Entrepreneurship for All-Epara Todos.  Silva will share how his organization can help empower the Spanish-speaking entrepreneurial community.

For more information, contact Professor Sheila Muller, smuller@necc.mass.edu, 978 556-3342