The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St.  Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us

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Hispanic Heritage Month

The Village is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, with a host of new community events in 2023:

 

Latinx Roundtable Talk: Prosperity, Power and Progress
  • 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 28
  • Oak Park Public Library Veterans Room, 834 Lake St.
  • As part of Oak Park's Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, a community roundtable discussion centered around the theme of prosperity, progress and power will be held in the Oak Park Public Library’s Veterans Room. Complimentary refreshments will be served. The panelists for the discussion are Juan Muñoz and Nora Sanchez. Find more information about the panelists below:

Juan Muñoz is a 1.5 generation Mexican-American and has been a resident of Oak Park since 2017, where he lives with his wife (Monica), two children (2yr and 3mo), and mother (Maria). He is currently VP of Business Development at Kribi Coffee. He also serves on the Board of Directors, as the Vice President, of Great Kids Inc., a non-profit partnering with early childhood development programs. He holds a B.A. in International Relations and Spanish from Minnesota State University and brings over a decade of strategic business experience to his professional roles. 

Nora Sanchez, the Latine Language & Culture Librarian at Oak Park Public Library, is passionate about bridging cultural gaps and language barriers. In her role, she curates resources and services that cater to patrons' language learning and cultural enrichment needs for and about the Latine community. Originally from the vibrant arts community of Pilsen, she draws inspiration from her upbringing. Beyond her work, she cherishes time spent with family, walks with her puppy, trips to museums, and of course, reading!

Isabela Flores is a junior at Dominican University double majoring in mathematics and Spanish.  She is a proactive and studious student who always looks on the bright side of any situation. Beyond her studies, some of Isabela's hobbies are playing the violin with the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest, walking, and spending quality time with her mom and grandparents.

 

Language Access Listening Session
  • 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 4
  • Tacos '76, 838 Madison St.
  • Join the Village's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for a community conversation about the Village's language access needs at Tacos '76 (838 Madison St.).

Viva Festival
  • 2-6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 7
  • Village Hall south lawn
  • Fun for the whole family awaits at the Village’s ¡Viva Festival! planned for Oct. 7 on the south lawn at Village Hall. The daytime event will feature food, activities for kids, entertainment - including an all-female mariachi band and Peruvian folk dancers, face painters and activities for kids, piñatas and much more.

Outdoor movie screening: Encanto
  • 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 13
  • Village Hall south lawn
  • The Village’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration wraps up the evening of Oct. 13 with an outdoor screening of Disney’s Encanto on the south lawn at Village Hall. 

For more information about Hispanic Heritage Month and these upcoming events, visit email DEI@oak-park.us