We celebrate Latina/o/x Heritage Month to recognize the achievements and contributions of Latina/o/x Americans who have inspired others to achieve success. Join LBCC in celebrating the Latina/o/x culture through a series of wonderful events all throughout the month of September and October. All virtual events will either be hosted through Zoom or presented through our official Long Beach City College YouTube channel.

PLEASE NOTE: Some event days and times may be subject to change.

• Participants may earn flex credit for the length of each event, with a total of 6 hours maximum for multiple events.
• Presenters may earn flex credit for double the length of each event, with a total of 6 hours maximum.

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Providing Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors 

The purpose of all Cultural Heritage and History celebrations is to affirm and elevate students by celebrating the diverse tapestry of intersectional identities that make us LBCC. Through these events, we seek to provide students with mirrors in which to see their identity recognized, honored, and valued. They also serve as windows for students of other identities to gain a deeper appreciation for diversity, equity, and inclusion. And finally, sliding glass doors, inviting everyone in to fully participate.  

Over time, several events have become staples for our Cultural Heritage months. All were developed by individual workgroups and fostered great reviews. In the spirit of collective impact and institutional change, we have now developed a baseline offering of events coordinated by different areas of the college. These efforts are instrumental in ensuring our students feel engaged, validated, empowered, and inspired- one more way for them to know that they belong at Long Beach City College!

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Latina/o/x Heritage Month Kick-Off – Unidos Somos Más, Together We are More

Date/Time: Thursday, September 10th, 12:00–2:00PM
Location: LAC A Quad (In Between the A Building and Carson St)

The Kick-Off event is designed to open the month’s festivities/activities by bringing the campus community together in a celebratory fashion to enjoy food, music, entertainment, and curated resources. 

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Sip N Science with Dr. Andrea Vizcaya Ruiz

Date/Time: Tuesday, September 29th, 5:30 PM
Location: LAC – D135 

Join us for our Sip N Science with Dr Vizcaya-Ruiz, an award-winning expert in environmental toxicology whose research focuses on the effects of particulate matter, microplastics, and nanomaterials toxicity on the human body. Using in vitro and in vivo models, she assesses different physiological responses – from issue injury and inflammation to oxidative stress – that arise after exposure to different environmental and occupational hazards.

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Latina/o/x Heritage Month Karaoke Night 

Date/Time: Tuesday, September 29th, 5:00PM–6:30PM 
Location: Social Justice Intercultural Center (LAC – B206)

Warm up your vocal cords and join the Social Justice Intercultural Center for our Karaoke/Open Mic Night! 

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Beyond the Box Series – Fireside Chat with Senator Hon. Lena Gonzalez: Finding Our Political Power

Date/Time: Monday, October 12th, 11:00AM–12:00PM 
Location: Social Justice Intercultural Center (LAC – B206)

The Beyond the Box workshop series is designed to explore the diversity and complexity encompassed within umbrella terms used to represent a wide cross-section of society. The intent is to go “beyond the box” of what pop culture shows us to honor the lived experiences of those placed in it.   

Senator Lena Gonzalez proudly represents one million residents in California’s 33rd Senate District, which encompasses Southeast Los Angeles, the City and Port of Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, and Catalina Island. As Senate Majority Leader and Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, she plays a key role in supporting legislative leadership and is a dedicated advocate on the critical issues impacting Californians.

Senator Gonzalez holds a BA in Political Science from Cal State Long Beach and an Executive MBA from Loyola Marymount University. She’s incredibly proud to be the daughter of a hardworking union truck driver and devoted father, and a brave, resilient mother who immigrated from Mexico. Senator Gonzalez resides in Long Beach with her family.