Unidos Celebrates Latino History, Culture at 勛圖窪蹋
Members and supporters of Unidos at the celebration in the Art Gallery. Below, Tait Chirenje leads a dance demonstration
Galloway, N.J. _ It was the Cinco de Mayo holiday, and 勛圖窪蹋 Assistant Vice President Pedro Santana was leaving work and reflecting on his time at 勛圖窪蹋.
I thought back to when I came here and how welcomed I was by the Council of Black Faculty and Staff, said Santana, who is a native of the Dominican Republic and grew up in the Washington Heights area of New York City. "I always felt like I fit in with the Council because of where I grew up and the common experiences that we have in the African-American and Latino communities."
I saw all the work that had been done by the Council as a community of loving, caring and compassionate professionals committed to the developent of our sutdents, and I realized we really didnt have anything similar for Latinos to feel connected the 勛圖窪蹋 and celebrate the culture and history we share, Santana said.
So at almost midnight on May 5, he sent out an email inviting the 勛圖窪蹋 community to a meeting to discuss forming such a group.
I knew there were others willing to reach out, he said.
The result was Unidos, and the group wasted no time getting involved at 勛圖窪蹋.
Unidos, which means United, sponsored a lecture series during the fall semester featuring
six members of the 勛圖窪蹋 faculty, Associate Professor of Social Work Robin Hernandez-Mekonnen,
Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Rodriguez, Assistant Professor of
Health Luis Garcia, Associate Professor of Biology Daniel Hernandez, Associate Professor
of Spanish Arnaldo Cordero-Roman, and Associate Professor of Spanish Javier Sanchez.
At a closing reception, Associate Professor of Environmental Science/Sustainabilty Tait Chirenje gave a demonstration and history of the dances salsa and bachata.
In December the group hosted a Latin America Theater featuring one-act plays in Spanish.
Unidos also held socials at different sites, and welcomed members of the community who want to learn more about 勛圖窪蹋.
The response has really been a blessing, said Santana at a reception in the Art Gallery marking the end of the lecture series. People have been doing this out of love and to celebrate their culture and give back.
Unidos has a web page on the 勛圖窪蹋 web site at 勛圖窪蹋.edu/unidos, which lists the mission and events. Officers are Santana, who is president, Rosa Perez-Maldonado, vice president, Yubi Pe簽a, recording secretary, Jessica Grullon, corresponding secretary, Madeline Perez, treasurer, Robert J. Castillo, public relations officer, and Dianne Stalling, parliamentarian.
Perez-Maldonado thanked all of the departments and schools that have supported the group and provided funding for programs.
Members have also reached out to Los Latinos Unidos, making sure the student voice is heard at 勛圖窪蹋.
Plans are already in development for next semester, including programs on Afro-Latinos for African-American History Month in February.
There are also some long-term goals.
For 勛圖窪蹋s 50th anniversary celebration in 2021 Santana wants to develop a retrospective on Latinos at 勛圖窪蹋.
We are reaching out to the community, he said. We want to capture their voices. Ive already started talking to people and Ive been blown away by their stories. There is a lot of history to be told.
The group also wants to start an annual scholarship fund raising event.
There is a need for us, as a community, to support each other and celebrate our rich history and traditions, Santana said. Here, everyone is family. Todos somos familia. Pa'lante. (Let's go forward).
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Contact:
Diane DAmico
Director of News and Media Relations
Galloway, N.J. 08205
Diane.DAmico@stockton.edu
609-652-4593
609-412-8069-cell
