Poet and actor kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month events
Award-winning poet, actor and writer Carlos Andrés Gómez will speak at Palm Beach State College Sept. 14 in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
For his hourlong talk, Gómez will address diversity and social justice, guiding attendees on “an exploration of social identity through an intersectional lens, examining race, gender, sexuality, class and other identities that frame and impact our lives.” The event will be held at 2 p.m. in Conference Room E& F on the Lake Worth campus. It is free and open to PBSC students, faculty and staff.
Gómez is author of the memoir “Man Up: Reimagining Modern Manhood,” and he appeared in the sixth season of HBO’s “Def Poetry” and co-starred in Spike Lee’s film “Inside Man” with Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster, and Clive Owen. The New York City native has performed at more than 300 colleges and universities since 2006. He has been featured on NPR, TEDx, Upworthy, Central Park SummerStage and, most recently, in MTV’s first ever poetry slam. A former social worker and public school teacher, Gómez first made a name for himself by winning at the Apollo Theater’s celebrated Amateur Night and later as a member of the renowned Nuyorican Poets Café’s slam team. In 2008, he collaborated with Tony Award-winning tap dance legend Savion Glover on Broadway.
This is the first of several events planned across the College for Hispanic Heritage Month, which is officially held Sept. 15-Oct. 15 to celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. According to the Pew Research Center, as of 2014, there were 55 million Hispanics in the U.S. making up 17 percent of the total population. At PBSC, the student population includes 29 percent Hispanics.
Other events, open to PBSC students faculty and staff, include:
Sept. 15 – 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Hispanic Heritage Salsa Magic – Conference Room E & F, Lake Worth campus. Organized by the Lake Worth campus Student Activities office, this celebration includes traditional Hispanic food, drinks and dancing.
Sept. 20 – Oct. 28 – Hispanic Heritage Month Art Exhibit, Library (second floor Gallery), Lake Worth campus. Stop by to see this art exhibit featuring the work of local artists.
Oct. 4 – 3:30 – 7 p.m. – Hispanic Heritage Fest – Campus Amphitheater, Palm Beach Gardens campus. This celebration, organized by Palm Beach Gardens campus Student Activities office, will include Hispanic cuisine, music and games.
For more information about these events and others, visit the PBSC events calendar.
