North Salt Lake kicked off its observation of National Hispanic Heritage Month with a Latino and Hispanic heritage celebration on Sept. 18. 

The celebration was the final event in the North Salt Lake “Unity in Our Community” summer event series, which aimed to celebrate and unite the diverse populations within Davis County. Other events this summer included celebrations for Juneteenth, Pride Month and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. 

The “Unity in Our Community” events combine North Salt Lake’s weekly Monday night food trucks and vendor fairs with entertainment, vendors and resources from and for members of the community being celebrated. The North Salt Lake Hispanic heritage event featured a DJ, a dance number from local troupe Iconic Dance Company and booths from the city of North Salt Lake and a local Latinos in Action program. 

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The observation began as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson and was extended to the full month we observe today by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. 

According to the official National Hispanic Heritage Month website, the month “traditionally honors the cultures and contributions of both Hispanic and Latino Americans as we celebrate heritage rooted in all Latin American countries.” Many Latin American countries, including Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, celebrate their independence days throughout this month, and the month is a celebration of both independence and unity. 

The North Salt Lake Hispanic heritage event featured a booth from Mueller Park Junior High’s Latinos in Action (L.I.A.) program, which is an elective course taught in schools throughout the United States. Several schools in Davis County offer membership, and students in the L.I.A. program participate in college preparation and community service. 

“We are here to spread what Hispanic culture means for [us] and let people know what L.I.A. is all about,” said Alexis, a student in the program.

Other L.I.A. students volunteering at the event expressed their hope that they would be able to participate in similar events in the future. 

“We’re just here to show who we are and kind of help around,” said Stefany, another L.I.A. student. “We love these festivals, and we just wanted to support [them]. I feel like it’s really important for our community.” 

As of 2022, an estimated 11.1 percent of Davis County residents identified as Hispanic or Latino, according to the United States Census Bureau. Chloe, another student in the L.I.A. program, said L.I.A. aims to provide an outlet for Hispanic and Latino students to share their culture with their peers. 

“L.I.A. is here representing what Hispanic heritage means,” she said. “We’re showing who we are and what a community can be like in this setting.” 

This was the first year the city of North Salt Lake has hosted the “Unity in Our Community” series, and the city hopes to make it a tradition in years to come. 

For more information on National Hispanic Heritage Month, visit www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov. To learn more about Latinos in Action, visit www.latinosinaction.org. λ