National Hispanic Heritage Month
Building Community through Cultural Heritage
Omar Jamil Safir (CTE) sits down with Araceli Masterson-Alger, professor in American Studies and Senior Jayhawks Jorge Hinojosa and Anthony Alvarez to discuss the significance of cultural heritage and their involvement in the Lawrence Día de los Muertos celebration.
Professor Masterson-Alger describes the intimate connection between culture and teaching, noting that culture provides more than a relevant context—it builds a bridge between the lived experience of others and our understanding of ourselves. Jorge and Anthony discuss their own cultural identity as Mexican Americans and how this has empowered them as students at KU. From professional interests to building community on campus, Anthony and Jorge find strength in the values and traditions they have learned through their culture.
Social Sciences
Psychology: Include Dr. Martha Bernal, the first Latina to receive a Ph.D. in psychology, and discuss her work on ethnic identity and its importance in psychological research.
Sociology: Explore the contributions of Dr. Julia Lopez-Estrada, a sociologist who focuses on immigration and social inequality, highlighting her research in understanding Hispanic immigrant communities.
Comparative Politics: Compare and contrast the political systems of several Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Argentina, and Venezuela. Explore the political dynamics within these nations and how Hispanic political thought has influenced both domestic and international politics.
Humanities
History: While studying the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, incorporate lessons on the Chicano Movement, discussing its role in fighting for Hispanic civil rights and how it paralleled other movements of the era.
Philosophy: In a unit on existentialism, include the works of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, a 17th-century Mexican philosopher and writer, who tackled themes of gender, knowledge, and freedom.
Indigenous and Mestizo Thought: Examine the philosophical contributions of indigenous and mestizo traditions in Latin America, focusing on their concepts of community, land, and spirituality. Connect these ideas to contemporary philosophical debates on environmental ethics and the relationship between humans and nature.
STEM
Biology: During a unit on biodiversity, discuss the Amazon Rainforest and its significance, including conservation efforts led by Hispanic biologists like Adriana Ocampo, who advocates for planetary protection and biodiversity.
Environmental Science: When discussing climate change, focus on how it affects Hispanic agricultural communities, both in the U.S. and Latin America, bringing in case studies from countries like Mexico and Chile.
Engineering: Discuss the invention of color TV by Mexican engineer Guillermo González Camarena, and explore the impact of this innovation on technology and communication.
Business
Marketing: Ask students to analyze how major brands engage with Hispanic communities during Hispanic Heritage Month and develop their own campaign aimed at a diverse Hispanic market.
Hispanic Supply Chain Networks: Examine the role of Hispanic-owned businesses in the U.S. supply chain, focusing on sectors such as agriculture, food production, and manufacturing. Analyze how Hispanic entrepreneurs contribute to supply chain diversity and have students develop strategies to promote supplier diversity in a company's operations.
Hispanic Investor Trends: Explore the investment behaviors of Hispanic individuals, focusing on studies that reveal trends in homeownership, entrepreneurship, and savings. Students can examine how cultural values influence financial decision-making and propose ways to enhance financial inclusion in the Hispanic community.