Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans

<p>Today, I have four distinguished Spartans with me to discuss Hispanic Heritage.</p><p>Deyanira Nevarez Martinez is assistant professor in the <a href="https://www.canr.msu.edu/spdc/programs/urban_and_regional_planning/index">Urban and Regional Planning</a> Program in the School of Planning, Design and Construction. Francisco Villarruel is interim director of the <a href="https://jsri.msu.edu/">Julian Samora Research Institute</a> and professor of Human Development and Family Studies. María Isabel Ayala is director of <a href="https://clstudies.msu.edu/">Chicano/Latino Studies</a> in the College of Social Science and associate professor in the Department of Sociology. And Luis Alonzo Garcia directs <a href="https://mss.msu.edu/index.html">Migrant Student Services</a>.</p><p>What does Hispanic heritage mean to you? What do you want us to be more aware of by celebrating it?</p><p>“It’s about the contributions that we have made to this country,” says Martinez. “It's so important to make sure that we acknowledge that we have been here for a long time. In many cases, we've all heard that saying ‘We didn't cross the border, the border crossed us.’ We've been in this place. We are from this place and so acknowledging that I think is really important.”</p><p>“Hispanic Heritage Month is really a special time,” adds Garcia. “We've been part of the machine that's been feeding America and people just quite don't understand that. We've only started. I think you will have great things to see in years to come.”</p><p>“Hispanic Heritage Month is about celebration,” Ayala says. “It's about celebrating the contributions of Latinx folks throughout the United States, and it’s a very diverse group. Oftentimes I think we think of Hispanics or Latinx folks in terms of music and food but what this allows us to do, especially this month, but hopefully throughout the year, is recognize that we have folks contributing in science, in the arts, in politics, in government, and in higher education. In programs like mine, Chicano/ La