On Friday, September 30, 2022, the Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion—in partnership with its student affairs team and UAB Medicine—hosted a Hispanic Heritage Month Event at Miami Fusion.

The event took place on a cool autumn evening and celebrated Hispanic culture at UAB with good food, music, and dancing. Sweet and savory snacks from Cuban sandwiches and Lechon Asado to plantains were set out in a beautiful spread for guests to enjoy in a buffet style as the bar poured festive cocktails.

After fueling up, students, faculty, and staff mingled and flowed up the stairs to the upper level, which served as a salsa dance floor and music-filled gathering space complete with a DJ. The popular event was attended by over 200 people and showcased the Hispanic culture in a way that will be remembered for a long time.

Salsa dancing and beautiful displays

Attendees were surrounded by beautiful displays of different Hispanic countries like Cuba and important historical figures like the famous Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. There were also salsa instructors on-site to teach attendees how to participate in the popular dance that finds its origins in the Hispanic world.

More about the local business that was supported

The event took place at Miami Fusion, run by Chef Delgado, which brings Caribbean delicacies—with a specialization in traditional Cuban and Puerto Rican dishes—to the Birmingham metro region. His family-owned restaurant has been in the community for almost a decade. Chef Delgado was raised in Havana's little South Florida community and was born in Puerto Rico.

This event was an educational opportunity and a fun gathering for new and old friends. Attendees were encouraged to share tasty cuisine and the dance floor. As many can attest, some of the best ways to embody cultural diversity are doing, moving, eating, and learning.