The Multicultural and International Service Office (MISO), along with many co-sponsors, hosted a series of events to commemorate Latin American Heritage Week. Saint Leo University is diverse in its student population and this was one of the many opportunities for students to be exposed to another culture.
Monday
To kick off the week, MISO held their first event April 2. MISO student workers, Bianca Novotona an MBA student in Supply Chain and Global Integration Management and Carla Sanchez, a freshman studying political science, along with a few members of the National Society of Minorites in Hospitality (NSMH) chapter of Saint Leo, instructed students on how to “Make Their [Your] Own Maracas.”
The activity on a whole was campaigned to showcase a musical aspect of Latin American culture. Between the hours of 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., students visited the table located in the dining hall lobby. They were given the chance to make their own version of the well-known instrument using simple household items.
“MISO provides engaging activities for the student body to promote cultural awareness,” said Novotona. “And, as we are celebrating Latin American Heritage Week, I think this is a fun and creative DIY project that not only shows how easy it is to make your own maraca, but also highlights the historical importance of the musical instrument and its influence on Latin America’s music and cultural traditions.”
Students took to the easy activity and proudly shook to the rhythm of their self-made maracas.
Tuesday
The following day, April 3, MISO, along with Goizueta Scholars, adorned the SCC boardrooms with colorful informational boards and food from various countries.
The Goizueta Scholars are Goizueta Foundation scholarship recipients here at the University, who benefit by being awarded aid for financial assistance. The foundation gives those students an opportunity to continue their education to succeed. And, like the foundation’s mission to motivate and inspire young people to learn, MISO in collaboration with the Goizueta Scholars, created informational boards on each respective scholars’ country of decent.
Some of the countries that were highlighted included the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Ecuador and Puerto Rico.
While moving to the Latino music, students danced their way to the different stations. Each station represented a different Goizueta Scholar’s country, which touched on many different aspects such as religion, popular meal, traditional music/dances, the history, the economy, the food and other fun historical facts about that country.
“This was not only an opportunity for the Goizueta scholars to showcase their different Latino cultures,” said Paige Ramsey-Hamacher, the Executive Director of Student Success. “But also for students at the University who are not able to travel, to take advantage of this educational opportunity.”
Not only did students collect informational brochures/flyers from each station, but also a new-found appreciation for Latino culture and the taste of a scrumptious tres leches cake.
Wednesday
Dance class is in session! On April 4, many students came out for a night filled with Salsa Magic. MISO, co-sponsoring with the Student Activities Board, transformed the SCC boardrooms into Club Leo: Latin Edition.
Many enjoyed the 90 minutes of informational, interactive Latin dance lessons by professional Latin dancers Lee “El Gringuito” Smith Jr and Kat “La Gata” Aguilar Smith.
Previously, the married couple taught in over 800+ cities around the world, teaching various styles of Latin dance: Merengue, Bachata, and Salsa.
The experienced duo definitely brought their energetic love of dance to Leo. DJ Ginguito played the latest Merengue, Bachata, Salsa, Reggaeton, and today’s hits. He kept the vibes and everyone on their toes.
Followed by a series of performances by Smith and his wife, they then broke down the complex dance moves for everyone to learn. After picking up an appetite from learning a few dance combinations, students had the chance to take a little break and grab some croquetas (a small breadcrumb fried roll with ham or vegetables), churros and nachos with salsa/cheese.
“I think dance is important because it’s a part of our culture, it is who we are,” said Edna Hernandez, a sophomore majoring in accounting and minoring in hospitality, who is also a Latina herself. “MISO’s event was definitely important. It showed the diversity of the Latino culture through dance but also by having food from different countries, like the croquetas from Cuba. It also brought the student body together, everyone learning a new culture and everyone meeting different students with different backgrounds.”
Students not only enjoyed Smith Jr’s comedy but his energetic teaching style, all while learning the cultural roots of the different dances and having a fun time.
“Do a body roll, because you can!” said Smith. One of his many spoken antics that humored people.
Thursday
Legend has it that if you tell all your worries to a worry doll and put the doll under your pillow at night, the doll will make your worries go away the next morning. Wouldn’t life be amazing if that was true? However, according to the Guatemala legend, the worry dolls have the ability to remove the worries from sleeping children.
The worry dolls are tiny, handcrafted dolls, which stand at 1 1/2 to 1 inch tall. In between eating lunch and walking to class, students stopped by the tabling event in the dining hall lobby to make their own worry doll.
Made with simple crafting tools, students could personally design their own worry doll from yarn, various color and patterned fabric, embroidery floss, fuzzy sticks and beads.
“I am definitely worried about finals, I will be placing my worry doll under my pillow tonight,” explained Joshua Williams a sophomore majoring in business management.
Friday
To wrap up the week of celebration, MISO decided to dedicate the last day of merriment highlighting Hispanic/Latino Contributions.
Some who were mentioned included Puerto Rican born baseball player and humanitarian, Roberto Clemente, Latina motivational speaker and rare disease advocate, Lizzie Velásquez, white house policy director, Cecilia Munoz, astronaut, Ellen Ochoa, Latino Performer Gloria Estefan, noted feminist theorist and author, Gloria Añzaldua and noted Mexican-American civil rights activist Cesar Chavez.
A short description of each were written up and placed in double-side stand-ups for students and faculty to read.
Overall, the focus for this week was to highlight Latino culture present on campus and to educate the student body and faculty on the diversity and rich culture of Latino heritage. It was an educational yet fun filled week that for sure made a lasting impact on a few.
