Chandler’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Division brings together multiple City departments for the annual “Chandler Contigo” — a month-long program of educational events and cultural activities for all ages that honor and celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15).

The diverse events will be held in various locations in Chandler with something for every age group to enjoy. Mark your calendar for the following:

Chandler Contigo Kickoff from 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Chandler Community Center, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave. Hosted in partnership with Fortis Femina, this kickoff event will showcase Chandler’s diverse Hispanic community and feature live performances, a DJ, food trucks/booths, cultural merchandise, community resources and free activities, such as face painting, crafts and more. Free admission.

Chandler Contigo Galveston Festival from 5–9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at Galveston Elementary School, 661 E. Galveston St.. Bring your neighbors and stop by the campus of Galveston Elementary for a vibrant and joyous festival to celebrate the history and future of Chandler’s Latino community. This festival will have live performances, raffle prizes, delicious food, inflatables for kids and resources for the community. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

Stories @ the Market with Chandler Contigo from 9–9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park. Come celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a special Chandler Contigo bilingual storytime. Join us at the Downtown Chandler Farmers Market for a storytime featuring stories, songs and more.

23rd Annual Chandler Mariachi and Folklórico Festival (presented by the Chandler Center for the Arts in partnership with C.A.L.L.E. de Arizona and Maestra Vanessa Ramirez) starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Chandler Center for the Arts (CCA), 250 N. Arizona Ave. Join the CCA for a Chandler tradition and experience the rich cultural history of Mexico through vibrant music and dance. The annual event features GRAMMY Award-winning Mariachi Los Camperos and 16-member Mariachi Estrella de Mexico, along with folklórico dancers from Ballet Folklórico Quetzalli-AZ. Tickets are available for purchase online.

Chandler Contigo: Michelle Emami: Both, Neither and All of the Above Head to the Gallery at Chandler Center for the Arts (CCA), 250 N. Arizona Ave. to view this exhibit by Mexican/Iranian artist Michelle Emami. In Both, Neither and All of the Above, Emami explores both her Iranian and Mexican heritages through motifs and cultural symbols drawn from both cultures. Her work also confronts the negativity and profound prejudices she has experienced within her communities. This exhibition aims to celebrate her multicultural background and encourages others to take pride in their identity. The Gallery at the CCA is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Admission to the Gallery is free. This featured exhibit will be on display through Saturday, Oct. 15.

Staff will host a closing reception on Oct. 15 from 3-5 p.m. where the public can meet the artist and enjoy live music, refreshments and a special art-making activity. RSVP required.

All four branches of the Chandler Public Library (CPL) will host a variety of free programs and events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Registration is required for some programs. The four CPL branches are: Basha Library, 5990 S. Val Vista Drive; Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St.; Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave.; and Sunset Library, 4930 W. Ray Road. For more information, or to register online, visit Chandler Contigo.

Chandler Contigo StoryWalk®: “Siesta” – As part of the Chandler Contigo celebration, your family can take a walk and explore the “Siesta” StoryWalk® display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8 – Monday, Oct. 17, at Amberwood Park, 2327 W. Calle Del Norte Drive, Chandler. Bring the kids to the park any day of the week to explore a picture book display that will bring together the joy of reading, the importance of reading together, and the benefits of outdoor, physical activity. This project is supported by the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Chandler Contigo: Grab & Go – All About Butterflies! – Stop by any of the CPL four locations from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, to pick up a grab-and-go activity kit filled with butterfly information and crafts. Make a butterfly finger puppet, create a butterfly pinwheel and receive your very own butterfly garden! Explore all the library’s resources and activities on butterflies and their connection to Mexico. Free while supplies last.

Chandler Contigo: Corona del Sol Student Art Exhibit – The Sunset Library is proud to present the Fall 2022 Corona del Sol Student Art Exhibit. Stop by the library to view Chandler Contigo inspired artwork created by Corona del Sol’s High School students. The show will be on display starting Monday, Sept. 26 – Wednesday, Nov. 2.

Chandler Contigo: Salsa with DJ Leo – Celebrate Chandler Contigo with DJ Leo from 2–3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave. DJ Leo will share his knowledge of salsa dance history, instruments, and an introductory lesson to salsa dancing. If you love music, join us!

Chandler Contigo: Butterfly ¡Fiesta! – Come to Desert Breeze Park, 660 N. Desert Breeze Blvd., for a special fiesta on Saturday, Oct. 15. Learn about butterflies, and their migration to Mexico, make a butterfly finger puppet and a butterfly pinwheel, learn some Spanish during Bilingual Storytime, and have the Desert Botanical Garden team amaze you as you learn all about the metamorphosis of a butterfly. Activities include:

• • 10 a.m. to noon: StoryWalk® – Señorita Mariposa by Ben Gundersheimer (Mister G)
  • 10 a.m. to noon: Make or Take Activity Kit – All About Butterflies! *while supplies last*
  • 10:30–11 a.m.: Bilingual Storytime – with Miss Kathy & Miss Raquel
  • 11:30 a.m. to noon: Desert Botanical Garden – Magnificent Butterflies showcase

StoryWalk® featuring Señorita Mariposa at Desert Breeze Park, will be available to enjoy through Saturday, Oct. 15. CPL staff also features several hands-on activities to explore during Hispanic Heritage Month. Come learn, get crafty and learn more about Latino culture at these free events:

Chandler Contigo: Reading Wrestlers/Luchadores de Lectura – The Luchador Ave Dragon is excited to meet you! He will share and read about Lucha Libre, the traditional Mexican wrestling phenomenon. This drop-in program includes a craft activity, photos, and gifts for kids (while supplies last). Join in the fun from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Basha Library, 5990 S. Val Vista Drive.

Chandler Contigo: Treasure Map to Your Life and Legacy – Chandler author Albert Quihuis will host an interactive presentation of his Legacy Journal from 5–6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave. Follow the author while he shows you how to chart your own heritage and preserve your family’s history. Space is limited and registration is required. Each registrant will receive a journal. Each registrant may bring along a plus-one (journal not included). If you are bringing a plus-one, please only register for ONE person.

Chandler Contigo: Papel Picado – Bring your little ones for some creativity celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Kids and their caregivers will make a papel picado banner, which is a traditional Mexican decorative craft. These bright and colorful tissue paper banners are often used to celebrate holidays and special events. Join us for this craft session from 10–11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St., Copper Room North.

Chandler Contigo: Get Creative with The Crafty Chica! – Come and experience a part of Mexican culture with this hands-on program for teens and adults presented by Kathy Cano-Murillo, aka The Crafty Chica. Mark your calendar for 2–3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, at the Downtown Library, Copper Room.

Chandler Contigo: DIY Mini Piñatas for Teens – Teens (ages 13-17), stop by the Sunset Library, 4930 W. Ray Road, from 3–4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, to learn how to make your own mini piñatas! Registration is not required; supplies and space are limited to the first 20 participants.

Chandler Contigo: Family Lotería – Join us in a traditional Mexican game, Lotería, and try your luck! No Spanish skills needed, but you may end up learning your first Spanish words as you fill your Lotería card! Join us from 3–5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St.

Travel Tuesdays with Chandler Contigo – Travel on Tuesday starting with a digital safari and ending on a scavenger hunt or craft related to the site we visited, engaging kids in a global community. Explore a Latin American country in this program from 3:30–4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the Downtown Library, Makery Program Room.

Chandler Contigo: Sugar Skull Earrings – Sugar skulls are deeply rooted in Mexican tradition and culture. This festive and whimsical symbol is an integral part of the Day of the Dead, or Día de Los Muertos — a Mexican holiday that marks the remembrance and celebration of those who have passed. Join us in making sugar skull polymer earrings from 6–7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at Basha Library, 5990 S. Val Vista Drive, Basha Barn.Registration is required and opens Thursday, Sept. 1.

Chandler Contigo: Treasure Map to Your Life and Legacy – Chandler author Albert Quihuis host an interactive presentation of his Legacy Journal from 6–7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at Sunset Library, 4930 W. Ray Road. Follow the author while he shows you how to chart your own heritage and preserve your family’s history. Space is limited and registration is required. Each registrant will receive a journal. Each registrant may bring along a plus-one (journal not included). If you are bringing a plus-one, please only register for ONE person.

Chandler Contigo: Latin American Crafts
Celebrate different Latin American artwork such as Mexican Metal Tooling, Taíno Petroglyphs found in caves throughout Puerto Rico and Cuba, and a Zampoña traditional wind instrument from Peru. Leave class with beautiful folk art to display. This is a drop-in program for ages 9–12, from 10–11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St., Makery Program Room.

Chandler Contigo: Game Day
Families – come celebrate Latino heritage by learning about and playing games from Latino cultures. This is a drop-in program from 2–4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St.

Travel Thursdays with Chandler Contigo – Travel on Thursday at the Basha Library, 5990 S. Val Vista Drive, starting with a digital safari and ending on a scavenger hunt or craft related to the site we visited, and engage kids in a global community! Explore a Latin American country in this program from 3:30–4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, in the Basha Library Computer Lab.

If you’re looking to catch a free flick with some delicious popcorn, pick one (or all) of the options below:

Chandler Contigo: Monday Movie Matinee featuring “The Book of Life” – As part of the Chandler Contigo celebration, we invite you to bring the family and enjoy “The Book of Life” from 2–4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, at the Downtown Library. “The Book of Life” is an animated adventure comedy depicting a story about Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. He embarks on an adventure that spans three fantastic worlds where he must face his greatest fears. Popcorn is provided, while supplies last. The “Book of Life” is rated PG and is 1 hour, 35 minutes long.

Chandler Contigo: Tuesday Movie Matinee featuring “Coco” – Join us for a free family movie from 10:15 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave. Bring the family as we watch the animated film “Coco” (2017). Popcorn is provided while supplies last. “Coco” is rated PG and total running time is 1 hour, 45 minutes.

Chandler Contigo: Movie Night in the Park featuring “Coco” – Join us for a special Chandler Contigo celebration movie night from 7–9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at Desert Breeze Park, 660 N. Desert Breeze Blvd. Popcorn is provided, while supplies last.

Chandler Contigo: Monday Movie Matinee featuring “Encanto” – Families are invited to join us for “Encanto” at the Monday Movie Matinee from 2–4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at the Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St. “Encanto” tells the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house. Free popcorn included, while supplies last.

In addition, there are multiple Baby Time, Preschool Time, Family Time and Bilingual Storytime events at different CPL branches. These programs include special stories and songs connected to Latino culture as part of the Chandler Contigo celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. For a complete list, visit Chandler Contigo to see the different Storytime options offered at each branch.

For more information about Chandler Contigo, visit Chandler Contigo or residents also may contact Adrianna Tušek Erickson with the City’s DEI Division at 480-782-2224.