Santa Barbara Public Library celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with “Raíces y Sueños”!

The Santa Barbara Public Library is pleased to announce a special series of events for Hispanic Heritage Month. It is with pride that we present, “Raíces y Sueños: Celebrating Hispanic Immigrant Culture”.

Our programming planning process relied on valuable contributions from Santa Barbara’s immigrant community, including: local leaders, representatives from key organizations, and Spanish speaking residents. Staff drew on survey results, strategic conversations, and interviews to compile suggestions and include new perspectives.

The essence of each event celebrates Hispanic representation, increases cultural appreciation, and creates a sense of belonging. Join us for this enriching series of events and activities:

Raíces y Sueños: Papier mâché doll-making workshop September 21, Eastside Library Patio: Ramona García will narrate the history of Mexican papier-mâché doll-making as you create your own doll and accompanying poem with the title “De dónde vengo." Both the doll and the poem will be featured in a Hispanic Heritage Month gallery exhibition at the Central Library.

Raíces y Sueños: Bilingual Storytime at the Art Museum Second Sunday of September, October, November, and December, Santa Barbara Art Museum: Enjoy the beauty of art and make new friends in this engaging and educational program, led in both English and Spanish.

Raíces y Sueños: A Glimpse into Santa Barbara's Hispanic Family Heritage, 1850-1950 September 29, Faulkner East and West Galleries: Explore a unique exhibition, featuring traditional Mexican paper mâché dolls, poems created by local residents, and photographs of historic Santa Barbara families at this special event in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society.

Creator’s Club: Raíces y Sueños Edition: Every Wednesday from September 25 through October 23, Eastside Library lawn:  Celebrate Hispanic Heritage month with a weekly STEAM activity inspired by Latin-American culture and history. Best for school-age children.

Santa Barbara Museum of Art: Free Admission for SBPL Library Card Holders: September 29. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by taking in captivating works by Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Argentinian artists.

Movie Screening: Radical October 4, Faulkner Main Gallery. Join us for a special movie night as we show Radical, in Spanish with English subtitles. Guest presenter Evelyn Carrillo, a dental technician with 24 years of experience in the US Air Force will share her inspiring story before the film.

Virtual Panel: Sergio Juárez and Paloma Noyola, the personalities who inspired Radical October 10. Join us for this inspiring Zoom panel with Sergio Juárez and Paloma Noyola, the real-life people who inspired the 2023 film Radical. Listen to their stories and learn how Juárez’s unconventional teaching methods inspired Noyola and other students to overcome personal challenges to achieve academic and life-long success.

Creator's Club: Raíces y Sueños Edition at McKinley School October 15. Join us for a special STEAM activity inspired by Latin-American culture and history at McKinley Elementary School. We’ll make mini Loteria flower pots inspired by the popular Mexican board game. Best for school-age children.

Mercado Raíces y Sueños November 9. Enjoy a special storytime and a performance from Oaxacreations, with their colorful oversize puppets and dancers. Make your own flower crown, write a love letter to yourself, browse handmade items for sale from entrepreneurs of all ages, and much more at this special marketplace event in the Michael Towbes Library Plaza.

Visit our events calendar on our website for up to date information or to register for events, SBPLibrary.org or call us at 805-962-7653.

This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org.

Thank you for your support of this project! We hope to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with you!

Contact: Catalina Morancey, Spanish Outreach Coordinator
Phone: 805-962-7653
Email: CMorancey@SantaBarbaraCA.gov