Latinx Heritage Month Presentations

Students will research and create presentations about influential Latinx activists, highlighting their contributions to society and the impact of their work. Students can create a Canva/Google Slides presentation or bring a presentation board. Each presentation should be 3-7 minutes long depending on the age of the student.

Presentation Ideas:

1. Biographical Overview: Provide a brief biography of the activist. Discuss their early life, education, and what inspired them to become activists. 
2. Activist’s Contributions: Describe the key issues they advocated for (e.g., civil rights, labor rights, environmental justice). Highlight significant achievements and contributions. 
3. Historical Context: Explain the historical and social context in which the activist operated. Discuss any major events or movements they were part of. 
4. Impact and Legacy: Analyze the lasting impact of their work. Discuss how their contributions have influenced current movements and society. 
5. Personal Reflection: Encourage students to reflect on what they learned from the activist’s life and work. Ask them to consider how this activist’s contributions inspire them personally.

• Sources: Use at least three credible sources for research.
• Creativity: Add creative elements to make the presentation engaging.
• Citations: Include a slide or section with references.
• Q&A: Be prepared to answer questions from the audience.

Suggested Activists for Research (or choose your own):

Cesar Chavez: Labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association.

Dolores Huerta: Labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association with Cesar Chavez.

Rigoberta Menchú: Indigenous Guatemalan woman who has dedicated her life to publicizing the rights of Guatemala's indigenous peoples.

Sylvia Rivera: Transgender activist who played a significant role in the early gay liberation movement and Stonewall Riots.

Gloria Anzaldúa: Scholar of Chicana cultural theory, feminist theory, and queer theory.

Oscar Zeta Acosta: Chicano lawyer, politician, novelist, and activist in the Chicano Movement.

Ellen Ochoa: Engineer, former astronaut, and the first Hispanic woman to go to space.

José Martí: Cuban national hero and an important figure in Latin American literature.

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz: 17th-century Mexican writer, philosopher, composer, and poet of the Baroque period.Juan Felipe Herrera: Poet, performer, writer, cartoonist, teacher, and activist who served as the U.S. Poet Laureate.

Frida Kahlo: Mexican painter known for her self-portraits and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico.

Emma Tenayuca: Mexican-American labor leader, union organizer, and educator.

Julia de Burgos: Puerto Rican poet and civil rights activist for women and African/Afro-Caribbean writers.

Antonia Pantoja: Puerto Rican educator, social worker, and civil rights leader who founded ASPIRA, an organization dedicated to education and leadership development among Puerto Rican and Latino youth.

Alicia Dickerson Montemayor: Mexican-American civil rights activist and social worker, known for her involvement in the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).

Miriam Colón: Puerto Rican actress and founder of the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater in New York City.

Gloria E. Anzaldúa: Cultural theorist and writer, known for her work on Chicana cultural theory and queer theory.

Norma Cantú: Civil rights attorney and educator who served as Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights in the Clinton Administration.

Hilda Solis:Former U.S. Secretary of Labor and a champion for workers' rights and social justice.

Sylvia Mendez: Civil rights activist of Mexican-Puerto Rican heritage who was a key figure in the landmark desegregation case Mendez v. Westminster.

Sonia Sotomayor: First Latina Supreme Court Justice of the United States, known for her advocacy for the rights of defendants, reform of the criminal justice system, and making the legal system accessible to all.

Rosario Dawson: Actress and activist who co-founded Voto Latino, an organization that encourages young Latinos to register to vote.

Rigoberta Menchú Tum:Indigenous Guatemalan woman who has dedicated her life to publicizing the rights of Guatemala's indigenous peoples and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992.