St. John’s University celebrated the start of Hispanic Heritage Month with a culturally rich kick-off event held at the D’Angelo Center Plaza and Sun Yat Sen Memorial Lawn Sept. 23 from 1:50-3:50 p.m.
The event was organized by the University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs through its Culture and Identity-Based Programming Council, along with the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) and the Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA).
The showcase marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, a national celebration held annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. This year’s theme is “Bienvenido a Mi Bloque,” which translates to “Welcome to My Block.”
Elizabeth Ponce de Leon, assistant director of Culture and Identity-Based Services at St. John’s, described the intent behind the theme, alluding to its attempt at spreading cultural awareness.
“The purpose of this theme is to explore Latinx culture in New York City, our impact and influence, and to welcome students to our ‘block’ here at St. John’s,” Ponce de Leon said. “We hope that they feel welcome; whether they are Latinx or not, they are invited to our community to enjoy our food, culture and celebrations.”
The festivities featured a diverse lineup of performances that celebrated the cultural traditions of the Latinx community. The showcase began with a high-energy performance by SJU Sensacion, the university’s Latin dance team, followed by a routine from Los Andulleros de Santiago, a local Dominican carnival performance group. San Simon Sucre Filial NY, a New York-based Bolivian dance team, closed out the performances.
In addition to the dance performances, Oh So Fly ΛΠΧ, a Latina sorority on campus, was present to recruit new members. The event also included interactive cultural learning stations hosted by ALPFA and LASO, as well as food catered by Chrome 101, a local Puerto Rican restaurant known for its authentic dishes.
Daniel Orozco, treasurer of LASO, emphasized the importance of these events in fostering community among students.
“It’s always good to bring people together, especially Latin American students,” Orozco said. “It’s nice to have these cultural organizations to bring people with similar backgrounds together. It helps people make friends, make connections and have a sense of community among themselves in a place that might be unfamiliar to them.”
Dr. Sharod Tomlinson, assistant vice president for Equity and Inclusion/Student Belonging at St. John’s, highlighted the broader importance of these cultural celebrations in promoting inclusivity on campus.
“I think we have to continue making sure we represent and celebrate all cultures and identities here,” Tomlinson said. “We have students from various walks of life with diverse experiences, and everyone deserves to be celebrated, appreciated and valued.”
As the event concluded, students gathered to share food and interact with the organizations present. Gabriella Onesto, community service chair for Oh So Fly ΛΠΧ, reflected on the value of events like this in building a sense of belonging.
“I think it’s a really great opportunity to get more involved on campus,” Onesto said.
“If you feel like there’s not really a place for you to express your cultural identity, I think starting with the Office of Multicultural Affairs is a great place.”
