As we prepare to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, we honor and commend the diverse and vibrant contributions of our Hispanic and Latinx colleagues within our institute and beyond. This recognition month is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the rich cultural heritage, achievements, and history of Hispaniccommunities. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the Hispanicpopulation is 18.7% nationwide, 10.7% in North Carolina, and 15.4% in Durham County.
Throughout the coming weeks, events and activities celebrating Hispanic culture and history will abound. Opportunities include:
- The Employee Resource Group ¡DALHE! will kick off the celebration on Sept. 16 with Pasado y Perspectiva (Past and Present) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Trent Semans Center. In honor of Duke’s Centennial Celebration, ¡DALHE! is centering the theme for this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month around understanding our past while looking to the future. The event is free, and registration is required.
- ¡DALHE! is hosting an exhibit featuring the work of local artist Eduardo Lapetina through October at the Duke Eye Center Concourse Gallery. ¡DALHE! will also offer a Virtual Cafecito at noon on Sept. 27 focused on career topics of leadership, networking, mentorship, professional development, and more.
- VIVA ISLA Celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 28 at Lyons Farm Elementary School in Durham will offer history, culture, food, and entertainment.
- Duke Chapel will host Día de los Muertos Ofrenda on Oct. 7. This free, all-day event guided by the expertise of local Latinx artists will serve as a powerful homage to the rich cultural heritage and sacred traditions of the Day of the Dead.
We encourage you to use this time to deepen your understanding, show appreciation, and continue to foster an inclusive environment at CTSI and beyond where every voice is heard and valued.
Sincerely,
Susanna Naggie, MD, MHS
Director, Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute
Professor of Medicine
Vice Dean for Clinical and Translational Research
Duke University School of Medicine
Raquel Ruiz, MBA, MA Ed
Co-Director, Equity and Learning Health Communities Pillar, Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute
Founder and Lead, ¡DALHE! (Duke Advancing Latiné/HispanicExcellence) Employee Resource Group
Duke University School of Medicine
Keisha L. Bentley-Edwards, PhD
Co-Director, Center for Equity in Research and Special Populations
Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute
Associate Professor, General Internal Medicine
Associate Director of Research, Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity
Duke University School of Medicine
Dane R. Whicker, PhD
Co-Director, Center for Equity in Research
Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute
Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Director, Gender and Sexual Diversity Initiatives
Duke University School of Medicine, Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion