National Hispanic Heritage Month

SUMMARY

National Hispanic Heritage Month (NHHM) honors the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans as we celebrate heritage rooted in Hispanic, Latinx and Latin American communities.

September 15 to October 15 is celebrated nationwide as National Hispanic Heritage Month. During this month and throughout the year, Purdue University highlights the accomplishments, contributions, history of Latinx communities and Latinx Boilermakers. 

Purdue Marketing and Communications has partnered with the Purdue Latino Cultural Center to amplify their stories of the giant leaps made by Purdue’s outstanding Hispanic and Latinx faculty, staff, alumni, and students. Below, you’ll find helpful information, stories, and social media content regarding National #HispanicHeritageMonth.

History of National Hispanic Heritage Month

In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson observed Hispanic Heritage Week. Twenty years later, this week was expanded to a 30-day period (September 15th-October 15th) by President Ronald Reagan. National Hispanic Heritage Month was enacted into law on August 17, 1988.The day of September 15 is significant 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 September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30-day period.


STRATEGY
National Hispanic Heritage Month is nationally recognized from September 15-October 15, and the release of these stories will occur during that timeframe. However, these stories and resources can be used any time of the year, as they are evergreen and can be integrated into your editorial planning annually.

RESOURCES INCLUDE

LINKS and UTM PARAMETERS

When linking to Purdue websites from social platforms or emails, it is recommended that UTM parameters be added to the URL in order to provide reporting on the activity. The Marketing and Communications campaign URL builder allows you to easily configure these links and even request shortened Purdue-branded links.

UTM Campaign: national_hispanic_heritage_month
UTM Medium: Social (or email)
UTM Source: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram (or email newsletter name)
Stories Landing Page Link: https://www.purdue.edu/lcc/nhhm/Stories/index.php

STORY LINKS

Week 1: Latino Cultural Center: 20-year-old dream now a vibrant reality https://www.purdue.edu/lcc/nhhm/Stories/story-one.php

Week 2: Purdue Latinx students gain strength from looking inward and connecting outward https://www.purdue.edu/lcc/nhhm/Stories/story-two.php

Week 3: Latin American minor covers breadth of history and cultures https://www.purdue.edu/lcc/nhhm/Stories/story-three.php

Week 4: Former student plants seeds for growth, sustainability https://www.purdue.edu/lcc/nhhm/Stories/story-four.php

Week 5: A servant Boilermaker who lives on in others https://www.purdue.edu/lcc/nhhm/Stories/story-five.php

Week 6: From Nicaragua to Purdue, the roots that became wings https://www.purdue.edu/lcc/nhhm/Stories/story-six.php

AVAILABLE ASSETS

The following assets are available for download and use. Social assets include files for Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Instagram Stories

NOTE: If InDesign files are needed for any of these assets, please complete the marketing request form on our website.

SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDANCE

POSTING TIPS

Digital engagement is a powerful platform to share Purdue stories and posts with past, present and future Boilermakers. Here are some tips to help your posts shine.

  • Keep posts short and direct
  • Link all posts back to our landing page
  • Include photos, videos, or GIFs
  • Use short URLS


SUGGESTED SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

Week 1: It’s National #HispanicHeritageMonth. From September 15 through October 15, we’ll be sharing @LCCPurdue stories of Hispanic and Latinx Boilermakers’ history, culture and accomplishments: <insert Story URL>

Week 2: In celebration of National #HispanicHeritageMonth, Purdue students Kamilah Valentin-Diaz and Giovanna Salazar share stories of their connection to the @LCCPurdue. Since its establishment in 2003, Purdue’s LCC has served as a space to represent Latinx cultures, identities, histories, and accomplishments. The connections and community students find at the LCC give them the confidence to excel in challenging situations, including the pandemic. Read Kamilah and Giovanna’s stories: <insert Story URL>

Week 3: Did you know Purdue offers a 15-credit minor in Latin American and Latino Studies? Open to students from all colleges and majors, this minor compliments a wide range of academic and professional goals.

Professor Alfred López, leader of the program, says, “Our goal is to provide a level of cultural literacy — what it means to be Latinx — to be able to function in a multi-cultural world, whether that be in a workplace like Chicago or Los Angeles, or as far as Ecuador or Brazil.” 

Learn more about Professor López and the Latin American and Latino Studies minor here: <insert Story URL>

Week 4: Val Schull, PhD agricultural and biological engineering ’21, left their mark on the Latino Cultural Center at Purdue by combining their passions for sustainable farming and food justice to create Jardin Semillas, an on-campus community garden.

The garden serves as a hands-on educational experience for students to learn about food production, sustainable irrigation, and what it means to have access to culturally-important foods.

Val says they always looked forward to National Latinx/e Heritage Month celebrations at the LCC. “As a queer and nonbinary Latinx person, it has been great to see the LCC collaborate with the cultural centers on campus to bring programs that demonstrate how the Latinx/e community is not a monolith.”

Learn more about Val’s contribution to the LCC here: <insert Story URL>

Week 5: Wilson Usedo left a legacy of compassion and service at the @Purdue University Latino Cultural Center. He was committed to connecting students to resources and building a home away from home at the LCC.

His brother, Edward Usedo, says, “[Wilson] had a way of making you feel welcome and comfortable. He would approach you and treat you as if he had known you for years.”

Read more about Wilson Usedo’s impact at Purdue and other stories in celebration of National #HispanicHeritageMonth: <insert Story URL>

Week 6: Purdue alum Joseph Pabst grew up in Managua, Nicaragua, in a home that emphasized education, self-improvement and persistence. After graduating from Purdue in 2000 with a degree in aviation technology, Pabst went on to make his family proud as an innovator in the airline industry.

Pabst and his family visited Purdue’s campus in 2019, and he was happy to see the growth of the @Latino Cultural Center.

“Today’s students are very fortunate to have a Latino Cultural Center as a home away from home,” he says. “I hope they will continue to network with each other and with students of all backgrounds.  I encourage them to embrace change and learn about the differences that make us each unique.” Read Pabst’s story and others in celebration of National #HispanicHeritageMonth: <insert Story URL>

TAGGING RECOMMENDATIONS

Please tag the Purdue University Latino Cultural Center on all platforms as shown above.

Instagram: @LCCPurdue

Facebook: @LCCPurdue

Twitter: @LCCPurdue

CAMPUSWIDE HASHTAGS

#PurdueUniversity

#MySmallStep = Student stories

#MyGiantLeap = Faculty/Alumni stories

CAMPAIGN-SPECIFIC HASHTAGS

#HispanicHeritageMonth