Hispanic Heritage Month

Overview

September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States! During Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the countless contributions that Hispanic Americans have made to our nation, and especially to New York City, throughout history. We also take this time to recognize the trailblazing individuals who fought for progress and equity for their communities. 

Our national tradition of celebrating Hispanic heritage began in 1968. That year, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first proclamation to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Week. Later, in 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a law to extend the celebration to last an entire month, and National Hispanic Heritage Month has been celebrated annually ever since. 

The dates for Hispanic Heritage Month were chosen to coincide with the Independence Day celebrations of several Latin American nations. The first day, September 15, marks the anniversary of the date that Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua each declared their independence from Spain in 1821. In addition, Chile, Mexico, and Belize have their own Independence Day celebrations throughout the month as well. In all, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates communities with roots in 20 Latin American countries and territories who make up over 19% of the US population.

The theme for Hispanic Heritage Month in 2025 is “Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future.” This reminds us to honor the traditions and legacies of those who came before us while also looking ahead towards generations to come who will continue to build upon and grow from that history.  

We encourage our teachers, students, and families to explore the resources below to further expand your understanding of this rich and vibrant history.

Events and Exhibitions

• Throughout the month:
  • Check out the New York Public Library’s Hispanic Heritage Month events, which include activities for children of all ages such as bilingual story times, arts and crafts nights, and more.
  • NYC Parks is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! Enjoy art exhibits, talks, and more at public parks across all five boroughs.
  • Check out virtual exhibitions from the National Museum of the American Latino.
  • Visit the Hispanic Museum and Library in Manhattan, where you can see paintings, sculptures, photographs, and more on display in exhibitions like “A Collection Without Borders,” on view Thursday–Sunday until October 19, 2025. Plus, check out their upcoming special programs calendar for events taking place throughout Hispanic Heritage Month!
  • El Museo del Barrio, located in Manhattan, is a museum created to present and preserve the art and culture of Puerto Ricans, Caribbean Americans, and all Latin Americans in the United States. Explore all they have to offer with events and exhibitions all year long.
• Saturday, September 13–Sunday, September 21, 2025: Check out events at the 25th anniversary of the NY Latino Film Festival, including new film screenings and their annual Block Party.
• Sunday, September 21, 2025: Join in a day of fun for the whole family at the Carnaval Cultura Latina in Queens, which promotes the art, music, dance, and great food from many Latin American cultures.
• Monday, October 6–Friday, October 10, 2025: Educators can participate in the fifth annual “Teach Central America” Week, an initiative that encourages teaching about Central American history and culture in the classroom.
• Saturday, October 11, 2025: Attend the Panamanian Parade in Brooklyn, and be a part of the largest celebration of Panamanian individuals and culture outside of the country itself. The celebration begins at 12 PM at President Street and Classon Avenue.

Many of these books are readily available at New York’s public libraries, as well as through the Citywide Digital Library available on Sora for our students. On Sora, you can also find the H0ispanic and Latine Heritage Month, Spanish Language #OwnVoices, and Hidden Voices: Latino Americans collections for even more recommendations.

We also recommend the New York Public Library’s lists of English, Spanish, and bilingual titles to read this month, and all year round. In addition, check out  Colorín Colorado's Hispanic Heritage Month book lists and discover poetry written by dozens of Latine writers from the Poetry Foundation.

Civics for All Comics

The Civics for All Comics Group began as a collaboration between the NYCPS and various comics creators to publish non-fiction graphic texts for educational use. Spearheaded by the Department of Social Studies & Civics, the imprint has published over 30 comics that are used in classrooms citywide. This Hispanic Heritage Month, check out: 

• Historias de Resistencia #1: Dolores Huerta and the Plight of the Farm Workers & Union Organizers, a graphic history that tells the story of Dolores Huerta, a labor organizer who co-founded the United Farmworkers Association and dedicated her life to the fight for safer working conditions and a fair living wage for workers everywhere. 
• Voces de Libertad #1: The Story of Simón Bolívar, which tells the story of Simón Bolívar’s magisterial life and fight for South American independence from the Spanish Empire with bold colors and perceptive insight. The South American wars of independence that Simón Bolívar led were a fundamental component of the Age of Revolutions—wars that helped spread the spirit of democracy in the Western Hemisphere.
• Journeys, a work of graphic journalism based on two oral histories adapted from the book Solito, Solita: Crossing Borders with Youth Refugees from Central America. The writer Andalusia K. Soloff and artist Dante Aguilera have transformed the prose stories of Josué and Itzel into this comic. This comic is also available in Spanish.

Video and Audio Resources

To Watch:

• Hear from notable individuals like award-winning chef José Andrés, actress and director America Ferrera, and more with 10 great TED Talks by Hispanic and Latinx speakers.
• Check out the PBS collection of eight unique documentaries about different Hispanic and Latin American stories from across the country. For even more to watch from PBS, check out their Hispanic Heritage Month page, which has videos about music and culture, history, and profiles of Hispanic American heroes.
• To learn more about important Latinas in U.S. history, watch videos on figures like labor activist  Emma Tenayuca, and suffragette Maria Guadalupe Evangelina de Lopez.
• For more on the intersection between Hispanic Heritage and women’s history, the National Museum of American History has a video series called “Latinas Talk Latinas,” featuring even more discussions about notable Latina women who have had an impact on our country and society.

To Listen:

• Latino USA (Futuro Media): the longest-running Latino news and cultural public radio program.
• Radio Ambulante (NPR): a Spanish language podcast that tells stories from all over Latin America.
• ¿Quién Are We? (NPR): a new podcast that explores Latino and Hispanic identities, and the things that make us who we are.
• Planeta G (Greenpeace): learn more about the intersection between Latinx identity and environmentalism.
• “Yes She Did!”—Portraits (Smithsonian): In this episode, hear an interview with labor activist Dolores Huerta and learn about her life and legacy.
• “The Goddess of Broadway”—Sidedoor (Smithsonian/PRX): In this episode, learn about Diosa Costello, the first ever Puerto Rican performer to be on Broadway.

Educator Resources

• The National Educator’s Association (NEA) has assembled resources by grade level to use for your Hispanic Heritage Month lessons and celebrations.
• Check out the New-York Historical Society’s Nueva York, a curriculum guide dedicated to Hispanic history in our region from 1613–1945.
• The National Museum of American History has many resources available on their Latino History hub, including digital exhibitions, collections and archives, and more. They have also highlighted some that are especially relevant during Hispanic Heritage Month. You can also check out the Smithsonian Learning Lab, which features a collection of Hispanic Heritage Month learning resources
• Explore digital teaching and learning resources from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino.
• Learn about how the history of school segregation impacted Latino communities in the United States by exploring primary sources from the seminal Supreme Court case Mendez v. Westminster School District, often considered a precursor to Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, with the Learning for Justice toolkit called “Why Mendez Still Matters.”
  • Students can further engage with the Mendez case with a reenactment activity available on the United States Federal Courts’ website.
• Teachers and students of all grade levels are invited to explore the history, people and issues chronicled in the PBS series, Latino Americans, which is accompanied by lesson plans for students in various grade levels.
• Students in grades 6–12 can learn more about identity, intersectionality, and Latino culture with the short film “Bibi” alongside the accompanying learning guides from Learning for Justice.
• Explore a wide range of teaching resources from Facing History & Ourselves about Latinx history, art, and culture.
• The New York Times Learning Network has lessons about whether the term “Hispanic” should continue to be used to mark this annual celebration, information about Hispanic and Latino music (including reggaeton, Cuban music, and the musical legend Selena), a celebration of Latino cooking and the relationship between food and cultural identity, and more.
• Teach about the Young Lords Movement in New York City with materials from the Museum of the City of New York.
• El Museo del Barrio has several resource guides available for educators to use, in addition to video and audio resources available on their website.
• The National Park Service’s American Latino Heritage Theme Study, available in both Spanish and English, explores Latino history and culture with essays and other resources that reflect Latino American experiences across different eras, topics, and regions throughout the United States.
  • For more NPS resources, check out the NPS Hispanic Heritage Month page, along with Telling All Americans’ Stories: American Latino Heritage, also available on their website.
• Students can learn more about Hispanic Americans in Congress with resources from the U.S. House of Representatives Archives.
• Students can access National Archives records related to Hispanic and Latino Heritage online to research a wide range of topics with primary sources.

Hidden Voices

Hidden Voices began as a collaboration with the Museum of the City of New York that was initiated to help City students learn about the countless individuals who are often "hidden" from traditional historical records. Each person highlighted in the series has made a positive impact on their communities while serving as outstanding examples of leadership, advocacy, and community service. There are several curriculum options available that are especially relevant during Hispanic Heritage Month, including:

• Hidden Voices: Untold Stories in New York City History, which includes profiles of significant Hispanic American figures like Antonia Pantoja, one of the country's most influential civil rights and education leaders of the 20th Century.
• Hidden Voices: Latines in United States History, which delves into the perspectives, experiences, and impact that people of Latin American descent have had, and continue to have, in United States history. This curriculum guide also has accompanying videos about figures like poet and scholar Miguel Algarín and gay rights activist José Sarria. 
• Hidden Voices: LGBTQ+ Stories in United States History, which features profiles of history-makers like Sylvia Rivera, a New York City-based activist who was a prominent leader in the Gay Liberation Movement.

In addition to these lessons, we regularly feature profiles of history-making individuals who could be considered “hidden voices.” During Hispanic Heritage Month, check out our profiles on:

• Pura Belpré, a barrier-breaking librarian and author who dedicated her life to ensuring the Puerto Rican children in New York were well-represented in the books on the shelves of the New York Public Library.
• Willie Velásquez, a grassroots activist and champion for Latino voting rights in the United States.
• Dr. Helen Rodríguez-Trías, a doctor and activist who played a pivotal role in the women’s health movement by advocating for the rights and freedoms of Latina women and other marginalized communities throughout her career.
• Dr. Antonia Pantoja, one of the country's most influential civil rights and education leaders of the 20th Century who dedicated her life to New York's Puerto Rican community.

You can find more of our profiles throughout the year on our Hidden Voices webpage.