Award-winning poet Marcelo Hernandez Castillo headlines the Oak Park Public Library's Hispanic Heritage Month programming at Dominican University on Thursday, Sept. 17.
The library's full slate of events stretches into late October, spanning author visits, film screenings, kids' programs and a video series featuring local civic leaders. The library published its Hispanic Heritage Month page on Sept. 8.
Castillo, author of the memoir Children of the Land and poetry collections Cenzontle and Dulce, will speak from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Dominican University's Lund Auditorium, 7900 Division St. in River Forest. The event is available in person and on Zoom. Registration is available through Dominican University's St. Catherine of Siena Center page.
The visit is a collaboration between the library, the PASOS Network at Dominican University, the St. Catherine of Siena Center and the Office of Hispanic Serving Initiatives.
Castillo was the first undocumented student to graduate from the University of Michigan's Helen Zell Writers Program. He co-founded the Undocupoets, a campaign that eliminated citizenship requirements from all major U.S. poetry book prizes, earning him the Barnes and Noble Writers for Writers Award. He teaches in the MFA programs at St. Mary's College of California and Ashland University.
Local voices on screen
The library also released a video series called "Voices From Our Community," spotlighting three Oak Park civic figures: Oak Park Township Trustee Juan Muñoz, Dominican University Vice President of University Advancement Tony Martinez and Oak Park Village Clerk Christina Waters. The library described the three as individuals "who have been vital to Oak Park's vibrant community."
Kids and teen events
A teen celebration is set for Friday, Oct. 2, at 4 p.m. at the Main Library, with food, games and music.
For younger children, Spanish Storytime with Kathy Valdivia (Cuenta Cuentos con Kathy) runs on Fridays, Sept. 11, 18 and 25 at 11 a.m. at the Main Library. An additional session is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 16, at 10 a.m. The program is open to children ages 3 to 6 and their caregivers.
A bilingual kids' music concert by Parents' Choice Gold Award winners Alina and Hamlet, called "Being Bilingual Rocks!," takes place Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 10 a.m. at the Main Library.
On Friday, Oct. 23, at 11 a.m., the library hosts a Latinx KidLit Book Festival "Draw With Us" session. Authors María Coco and Carlos Aponte lead the prerecorded interactive art event for kids ages 5 and up.
Film screenings and book groups
Two Wednesday Movie Matinees round out the adult programming: Sergio Mendes in the Key of Joy on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 1 p.m. and East Side Sushi on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 1 p.m. Both screen at the Main Library.
The library's two ongoing Spanish-language book groups, Paginas y Platicas and the Latine Author Book Cafe, continue through the season. An English Language Conversation Hour for learners meets Saturdays at 10 a.m. at the Main Library.
Proceeds from the Friends of the Oak Park Public Library's 2026 book sale helped fund a Hispanic Heritage Month music program, according to a Wednesday Journal letter published Aug. 25. Full event details and book recommendations are available on the library's Hispanic Heritage Month page.
