Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at RVCC
RVCC’s current population of self-identified Latinx students is over 23 percent. And we are so pleased to celebrate this vibrant and growing community for National Hispanic Heritage Month!
What is Hispanic Heritage Month?
National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
When is Hispanic Heritage Month?
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15.
Latinx Student Spotlight
"It is critical for us as educators to view Hispanic and Latinx students as integral to our institution and to create inclusive environments for their success,” says Dr. Windy Paz-Amor, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at RVCC. “Latinx students share a strong work ethic and deep family values, often coupled with being the first in their family to navigate college or being first-generation American.” Let’s meet a couple remarkable RVCC alumni from the Latinx community who fit this bill:
- Joel R. is the son of Mexican immigrants and the first member of his family to graduate high school and earn a college degree. He graduated RVCC with degrees in Engineering and Mathematics and went on to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute before becoming an engineer at Boeing. He is a member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)— the nation's largest association dedicated to fostering Hispanic leadership in the STEM field.
- Yanely R. came to the U.S. from Mexico at age one and is the first person in her family to go to college. She graduated from RVCC with a degree in Liberal Arts/Social Science and transferred to Rutgers University, where she is majoring in social work. At RVCC, Yanely was the President of the ESL Club and a Spanish translator for The College’s Open Houses.
A Celebration of Culture
RVCC recently hosted a number of campus events to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, including
- A “Beauty of Diversity” picnic featuring Latin-Caribbean cuisine, salsa dance lessons, and more to honor Latinx culture.
- A Latinx/Hispanic Heritage educational poster campaign to highlight 14 individuals—including educators, scholars, activists, and more—who represent the deep diversity within Latinx culture.
- A Film & Discussion of “Forbidden: Undocumented and Queer in Rural America.” The film chronicles the work and activism of Moises Serrano, who was brought to the U.S. from Mexico as a baby for a chance at a better life.
Student Clubs & Cultural Clubs at RVCC
- The Orgullo Latino/Latin Pride Club at RVCC encourages campus-wide appreciation of Hispanic Americans and their contributions and history. The club hosts fun events and provides outreach programs to local high school students to help facilitate their pursuit of post-secondary education. For more information, email Mark Negron at mneg7744@stu.raritanval.edu.
- The Dreamers Club is an accepting group of students and faculty members whose main goal is to create a safe space for undocumented students and their allies. Members discuss resources available to undocumented students at RVCC and guide them towards furthering their education regardless of their citizenship status or nationality. Please reach out to Andrea Vaccaro at Andrea.Vaccaro@raritanval.edu for more information.
Diversity Resources
Raritan Valley Community College curates a list of diversity resources for multi-cultural and students. Resources compiled for the Latinx community include:
- Hispanic-American Village (from IMDiversity.com)
- Hispanic Alliance for Careers Enhancement
- Latin America's Professional Network (LatPro)
- Saludos.com
