Google Collaborates for Hispanic Heritage Month with 50 organizations

To kick-off Hispanic Heritage Month that begins on September 15, Google has partnered with 50 organizations to create the biggest digital collection of US Latino history, culture and art ever curated online, says the article “Google Launches Massive Digital History, Culture And Arts Project For Hispanic Heritage Month.”

The huge collection, called “Latino Cultures in the US,” comprised of 69 exhibits and 2,500 new artworks, aims to illustrate the impact and cultural contributions of Hispanics in the US going back to the 1500’s, states the article. Teachers can use the Google project to take students on an immersive, virtual journey of Latino culture, art and history in the country. Those who aren’t in school can take their own fascinating journey on the mark that Latinos have made.

The collection could not be a more perfect fit for Hispanic Heritage Month, as both are ways to recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans while also celebrating their culture and heritage.

Dating back to 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month is a national holiday that runs annually from September 15 through October 15. According to statistics by the Month organization, 55 million people are of Latino or Hispanic origin, making them the country’s biggest minority group. The terms, Latino or Hispanic, usually refers to individuals of Latino, Hispanic or Spanish descent who categorize themselves as Cuban, Cuban American, Puerto Rican, Puerto Rican American, Chicano, Chicano American, Mexican or Mexican American.

The Latino Family Literacy Project has an array of fantastic programs that celebrate Latino families all-year long. The main purpose of its literacy programs is in strengthening the reading, vocabulary and overall language skills of Hispanic ESL students, which often ends up sharpening the parents reading abilities, as well. By helping parents in establishing an at-home reading routine with bilingual books, an educator who completed the course said that reading became a staple in the household of every parent who participated. Teachers can attend a one-day, program training at a workshop near them or via an online webinar.