California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) went all out on festivities for Mexican Independence Day to kick off the celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 through October 15.

The free public event attracted roughly 500 participants and was organized in partnership with the Mexican Consulate of San Bernardino, the university’s Latino Education and Advocacy Days (LEAD), Associated Students Incorporated, the student government, local businesses, school districts, faith-based organizations, elected officials, and entertainers. 

“I am pleased that we are celebrating the anniversary of the independence of Mexico. ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México!” CSUSB President Tomás Morales said during the celebration.

During the event, professor Enrique Murillo, director and founder of LEAD and the chief organizer of the CSUSB’s celebration, was honored for his contribution to the university, “especially in addressing the educational equity in the specific needs of Latino education and his leadership in raising the profile of CSUSB as an institution committed to diversity, inclusion, and student success,” Morales said.

CSUSB held events throughout the month of September honoring the contributions of its Hispanic students, alumni, faculty, and staff with festivities as well as  discussions of current events and issues affecting the Hispanic and Latinx community.

[Above: Performers from the CSUSB Mexican Independence Day celebration]

Mariah Stewart is a staff writer for INSIGHT Into Diversity. This article ran in the November 2019 issue.