Herencia Latina Pioneer Valley is a celebration of the region’s Latino American heritage. The Pioneer Valley History Network is working in collaboration with Latino organizations, local libraries, museums, and colleges to bring a schedule of programs, activities, and events to residents of Western Mass from Turners Falls to Springfield, beginning this month and running through June 2016. The centerpiece of the project is the six-part documentary film Latino Americans, created for PBS in 2013 by the WETA public television station. The award-winning series chronicles the history of Latinos in the United States from the 16th century to present day. As part of Herencia Latina, all six episodes will be screened with scholar-led discussions at different locations throughout the autumn and spring. At the conclusion of the project, the History Network will donate DVDs of the documentary series to the Holyoke Public Library and to Holyoke Community College. The first event will be held Sept. 16 at Forbes Library in Northampton where a screening of the first episode of Latino Americans, “Foreigners In Their Own Land,” plays at 7 p.m. Scholar Raul Gutierrez will lead a discussion. Other events during this year-long celebration include films, music, food, dancing, exhibits, and lots of room for historical exploration.
Herencia Latina Pioneer Valley, September, 2015-July, 2016, across Western Mass; for a list of events visit herencialatina2015-16.org.
