Two people stand in front of a white tent and a table with a teal table cloth. They are holding up books.

Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month Through History, Games, and Connection

Being able to travel across the state and share the many resources DNCR provides is not just a job, it’s a calling we are all proud to fulfill.

Author: Alana Gomez, Hugo Govea, and Chelsea Kiefer

children coloring at a table

Hispanic Heritage Month was officially established in the United States to recognize and celebrate the contributions, culture, and history of Hispanic and Latino Americans. It began as Hispanic Heritage Week, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968. In 1988, the observance was expanded to the full month (September 15 to October 15) that we know today through legislation signed by President Ronald Reagan.

This fall, America 250 NC Educator Alana Gomez, America 250 NC Outreach Coordinator Chelsea Kiefer, and Education and Outreach Assistant Hugo Govea participated in programming that highlighted Hispanic heritage and culture. 

Two people stand behind a selfie frame at the Esperanza Festival. Each hold a book featuring the North Carolina Plott Hound.

Govea and Kiefer represented the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and America 250 NC at the Esperanza Hispanic Heritage Festival on September 28th. It was a wonderful opportunity to reach the Graham community and educate the public on many of the Spanish language materials the department has to offer.

On October 9th,all three participated in games with teens at Peach Road Community Center in Raleigh, to explore both historical and contemporary recerational activities.  First, the teens participated in a relay race with colonial games graces and hoop and stick, trivia questions about games in different cultures, and finished with a matching game of different Hispanic countries flags. The program ended with the Mexican game of Lotería (similar to bingo) and demonstrated how games are similar, even across different cultures in North Carolina and beyond. 

Children gather around papers on the grass outside while an adult looks over their activity

Govea also had the great privilege of participating in a variety of Hispanic and Latino events across North Carolina this month. As a first-generation North Carolinian born in a rural part of the state, it was incredibly meaningful for him to connect with communities and introduce them to parts of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) they may not have known existed. 

From celebrating Hispanic and Latino arts in Apex, to speaking with a class of New Arrivals at Alamance Community College, to joining the Consulate General of Mexico for their community resource day. Each experience served as powerful reminder of the importance of representation, outreach, and connection.

A woman speaks in front of a group of people in a classroom setting. She is facing a large screen and pointing to content.

A core part of our roles is to ensure that everyone who lives in or visits North Carolina feels welcomed into the rich, diverse, and extraordinary history and culture our state has to offer. Being able to travel across the state and share the many resources DNCR provides is not just a job, it’s a calling we are proud to fulfill.