Members of the Hispanic Organization to Promote Education at OCCC will celebrate Hispanic Heritage month in a number of ways, said Francisco Cervantes, HOPE club president.

For starters, the club has made plans to attend Fiesta de las Americas 2010, a multi-cultural outdoor festival scheduled from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, on the main street of Capitol Hill, SW 25 Street, between Walker and Shields.

The festival is being held in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage month, Cervantes said.

HOPE is sponsoring Hispanic Heritage month at OCCC as well, he said.

“We will be hosting several events here at the college and we would love for everyone to attend,” he said.

“We will be hosting soccer games, auctions and dances,” he said.

Cervantes said the club plans to have a dance instructor present at the dance to help people learn various Hispanic culture dances, he said.

“We are celebrating here at OCCC because we want other people, and students and faculty to get a sense of our pride and culture,” he said.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time set aside for people of Hispanic and Latin descent to come together and celebrate, Cervantes said. Hispanic Heritage month will last until Oct. 15.

Cervantes said he feels that it is important for people to learn about the Hispanic and Latino heritage and culture.

“I feel that a person must know where they are from to know where they are going,” he said.

Many countries in Central America, such as Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua participate in this month-long celebration, Cervantes said.

He said in 1968 Congress gave President Lyndon B. Johnson authorization to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage week. In 1988, it was increased from one week to one month.

Juan Luna, a HOPE club officer, said although their club wants to celebrate Hispanic and Latino heritage, they also want to celebrate and embrace diversity.

Luna said the HOPE club is planning to work with other clubs to host several different events.

HOPE club meetings are generally held every Tuesday from 12:30 to 1:20 p.m. in room 3N0 in the Main Building, he said.

Cervantes and Luna said there will be more information on upcoming activities soon.

For more information on this club and its upcoming events go to occc.campusgroups.com/hope.