Last Thursday September 18, the rich cultures of Latin America and its diasporic communities in this country were in full display at the Latinx Faculty and Staff Association’s Welcome Back Reception that took place at Wayne State University. Held at the spacious Student Center Ballroom, the well-attended festive event included ethnic food, Latin music, and a well-choreographed performance by Ballet Folklorico de WSU led by its director, Veronica Beltran, who also serves as LFSA outreach and engagement officer.
The artistic show captivated the audience by executing a representative sample of the rich repertoire of Mexican traditional songs and dances. Other participating organizations included the Association of Latino Professionals for America, Latinos en Healthcare, Lambda Theta Alpha, Latinx Student Association, Latino Medical Student Association, Sigma Lambda Beta, and Sigma Lambda Gamma. Also in attendance were enterprising student vendors who held a “mercadito,” a minimarket that showcased a variety of artisanal products.
Founded in 2018, LSFA seeks “to build an inclusive community and provide support for Wayne State’s Latina/o/x faculty, staff, and students across all levels and across the entire campus community.” Its officers, whose membership includes alumni and present or past employees of the WSU Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies (CLLAS), are all volunteers.
Following welcoming remarks where sponsors and everyone who supported the event were acknowledged (including Dr. Donyale Padgett, Vice-Provost for Inclusive Excellence, members of CLLAS and the Office of Multicultural Student Engagement, Mi Pueblo, DJ Tony Toca, the Latinx Student Association, and Gabriel Guzman Photography), LFSA chair Nathan Chavez presented a report of the organization’s activities. The recent professional achievements or pursuits WSU staff and faculty, and a calendar of Hispanic Heritage Month activities–including those taking place off campus through the end of October as well as the Academia del Pueblo Research Conference and the El Nuevo Comienzo Graduation Ceremony expected to take place next April and May– were also noted.
Another notable mention was the establishment of the Gerardo Rodriguez and Sabina Valenzuela Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity. Melissa Miranda, CLLAS associate director for student services and program administration, gave an update of the Center, briefly tracing its community-based origins that included a brief historical overview of its founding as the Latino en Marcha Program, its successive renaming as the Center for Chicano-Boricua Studies and the 2011 adoption of its current title.
