Community to Celebrate Arts and Culture
Community members are invited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with multiple events taking place at County College of Morris (CCM) this September and October.
Entitled “We Are Here!” (¡Aqui Estamos!), the series of gatherings and shows commemorate the rich cultural lives and art of the Latinx community with exciting charitable and themed programs ranging from a street race to a feast of culinary treats.
The Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs (MCOHA) presents its first annual 5K at CCM on Saturday, September 17, starting at 8 a.m. The race will raise funds for the many initiatives and programs MCHOA offers, such as assistance for low-income individuals and families, support for survivors of violence, and advocacy services for children and youth. To register for the race, go to https://bit.ly/HispanicHeritageCCM_Race/.
After the race, guests can savor MCOHA’s Taste of Giving Dinner, being held Saturday, September 17, from 6:30 to 11 p.m. in the Davidson Rooms in CCM’s Student Community Center. The food and wine reception will benefit the Center for Citizenship and Legal Immigration (CCLI), which is celebrating its 8th anniversary this year. CCLI strengthens the children and families of the Hispanic community by providing area residents with legal assistance in the immigration process and opportunities for economic self-sufficiency. Individual tickets are $50 if purchased in advance and $60 at the door. Sponsorship levels for the event range from $250 to $1,000, all of which include tickets to the event. For more information and to purchase tickets, call 973-366-4770 Ext. 16 or email marcela.lenox@mcoha.org. To make a Zelle payment, use ap@mcoha.org.
There will also be exhibition featuring the work of Melissa Echevarria, Luis Martinez and Walter Rodriguez in the CCM Art Gallery. The exhibition begins Thursday, September 15, and concludes with a reception, free and open to the public, on Sunday, October 15, at 6 p.m. The Art Gallery is located in CCM’s Learning Resource Center.
On Friday, September 23, CCM will present a free screening of the film “Like Water for Chocolate (Como Aqua para Chocolate)” in the Dragonetti Auditorium at 7 p.m., followed by a discussion on the film and its significance in the Spanish language and regional cinema.
Festivities continue Saturday, October 1, with a showcase of the arts presented by the CCM Foundation and IDEA Cultural. The show, at 7:30 p.m. in the Dragonetti Auditorium, will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by showcasing examples of the cultural wealth of Latinx artists through work from community members. There is a $15 registration fee and proceeds from this event will benefit CCM’s Dover College Promise program, which provides college readiness programs to middle and high school students in that community. To register, go to https://weblink.donorperfect.com/AquiEstamosWeAreHere/.
CCM is located at 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph.
