CLARKSVILLE, TN – Latinx Heritage Month begins this week on Friday, Sept. 15, marking the start of a monthlong celebration of Latinx culture and contributions. Austin Peay State University’s Latino Community Resource Center (LCRC) has planned events to honor this important time.

“This month offers a great opportunity to learn more about an important part of the Austin Peay community – our Latinx students, faculty and staff,” said Yanaraliz Barnes, director of the LCRC.

The festivities kick off on Sept. 15 with a Latinx Heritage Month Kick-Off event from 4-7 p.m. in the Morgan University Center (MUC) Plaza. Attendees can experience Latinx culture through music, performances, games and food.

Other events planned for the month include workshops, exhibits, craft activities and more. Some highlights include the 4th Annual Art Exhibit & Open Mic Night on Sept. 20 at the Customs House Museum, a piñata making workshop on Sept. 26 and an event honoring Latino military heroes on Oct. 12.

“The Latino Community Resource Center is proud to celebrate the cultures, contributions and resilience of Latinx, Hispanic and Latino-identified communities worldwide,” Barnes said. “We hope the Austin Peay and Clarksville communities will join us in honoring this vibrant part of our campus and society.”

In 2021, education non-profit SCORE reported that Austin Peay “served the highest percentage of Hispanic students of any four-year institution” in Tennessee.

A full schedule of Latinx Heritage Month events can be found below and at the LCRC website, www.apsu.edu/lcrc.

  • Latinx Heritage Month Kick-Off
    • WHEN: 4 – 7 p.m. on Sept. 15
    • WHERE: MUC Plaza
  • Mastering LinkedIn: How to Build Your Brand
    • WHEN: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sept. 19
    • WHERE: MUC Room 11
  • 4th Annual Art Exhibit & Open Mic Night
    • WHEN: 4-6 p.m. on Sept. 20
    • WHERE: Customs House Museum & Cultural Center, 200 S. Second St.
  • Aventura Cultura: Piñata Making
    • WHEN: 12:30-2 p.m. on Sept. 26
    • WHERE: MUC 115
  • Clarksville Pride at the LCRC
    • WHEN: 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 5
    • WHERE: MUC Room 115
  • Crafts and Cuentos
    • WHEN: 6 p.m. on Oct. 10
    • WHERE: MUC Room 111
  • Honoring Latino Military Heroes
    • WHEN: 1-2 p.m. on Oct. 12
    • WHERE: MUC Ballroom
  • LCRC Student Retreat
    • WHEN: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
    • WHERE: The Press, 200 Commerce St.