Preview story: Hispanic Heritage Month at Sacramento State starts Friday, Sept. 9, and continues through Friday, Oct. 28, with a variety of speakers and programs designed to bring the campus community – and the greater Sacramento community – together to celebrate the University’s multicultural identity.

Sac State was designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) in February 2015 by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). Approximately 27 percent of undergraduate full-time-equivalent students are Hispanic. A few months later, the University received a $2.4 million DOE grant to boost the success of Hispanic and low-income students attending the University and to improve retention and graduation rates.

Pulitzer Prize winner Sonia Nazario will discuss immigration issues Friday, Oct. 28.

In 2010, Sac State was designated an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, as well.

Here’s the lineup for Hispanic Heritage Month, presented by the Serna Center, the Dreamer Resource Center, and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP). All events are free and open to the public.

Serna Center Panel: “Inspirational Models of Latino Success,” 3 to 4:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at The WELL, Terrace Suite. Latino alumni share with current students how they attained academic, personal, and professional success.

Tara Yosso, 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, at the University Union, Hinde Auditorium. Yosso, a professor in the University of Michigan’s School of Education, will lecture on “Reclaiming Our Histories: Recovering Community Cultural Wealth.” She will advise her audience to become “fierce visionaries for generating opportunities to cultivate community cultural wealth as a tool for reclamation.” RSVP at dr-tarayosso.eventbrite.com.

The Head of Joaquin Murrieta, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at the University Union, Forest Suite. Director John J. Valadez will be on hand for a screening of his 2016 PBS documentary and a discussion afterward. For more than a decade, he searched for the remains of the legendary Mexican outlaw – until, he believes, he found Murrieta’s long-missing head.

Serna Center Forum: “Past ASI Presidents Reflect,” noon to 1:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19, at the University Union, Foothill Suite. Former leaders of Associated Students Inc. (ASI) talk about how they benefited from becoming involved in student government at Sacramento State.

A Policy Briefing: Supreme Court Decision on United States v. State of Texas, noon to 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the University Union, Orchard Suite. The case challenged a Department of Homeland Security program to provide undocumented immigrant parents of U.S. citizen children with temporary protection against involuntary removal. In June 2016, the Supreme Court came to a split decision on the constitutionality of Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) and extended Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Presented by the Dreamer Resource Center.

Student Academic Success Day: “The Family and Celebrating Hispanic Heritage,” 11 to 11:50 a.m. Monday, Sept. 26, at the University Union, California Suite. The Cultural Heritage Plenary Session will explore the relationship between family and college success among Chicana(o)/Latina(o) students.

Fourth annual Feria de Educación and the first DREAMer Clinic, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the University Union, Lobby Suite. Feria offers workshops on college planning, information about scholarships, free children’s books, exhibits, and entertainment for the Spanish-speaking community. The DREAMer Clinic will give Spanish-speaking families information on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA), financial aid, and other resources for undocumented students. Presented by Univision 19 and Sac State.

Tu Voto Es Tu Voz: A Forum on Why Your Vote Matters, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the University Union, Redwood Room. The forum will encourage and inspire students to engage in the political process, to register to vote, and to become lifelong voters.

Sonia Nazario, 3 to 4:15 p.m., Friday, Oct. 28, in Del Norte Hall 1004. A talk by the former Los Angeles Times reporter whose series “Enrique’s Journey,” the story of a Honduran boy’s struggle to find his mother in the United States, won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. She will talk about America’s immigration dilemma. – Dixie Reid