What does it mean to be a descendant of Latine, Latinx, Latino, Latina and Hispanic heritage and trace your cultural roots to a Spanish-speaking community in Latin America, Central America, South America or the Caribbean?
It’s nearly impossible to come up with a singular defining trait, characteristic or value that represents the Latine culture, but beginning on Friday, the University community will come together to celebrate Latine Heritage Month (LHM) and learn more about the rich cultural history of the Latine community.
Three current students—Evelina Torres ’25, German Nolivos ’26 and Janeice Lopez G’25—share what their cultural heritage means to them, how they’ve discovered a cultural home on campus and why they wanted to get involved in planning LHM celebrations.
Evelina Torres (left), German Nolivos (center) and Janeice Lopez share what their cultural heritage means to them leading up to Syracuse University’s Latine Heritage Month celebrations.
The monthlong celebration begins Friday night with an opening ceremony, an information fair and the “Futurismo Latino” exhibition opening event in the Schine Student Center atrium.
One of the most anticipated programs, the Fiesta Latina, occurs on Oct. 6 and features Latine cuisine and live entertainment from Trio Los Claveles, Raices Dance Troupe and the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations. LHM festivities conclude with the fifth annual LGBTQ+ History Month Potash Collaborative Keynote on Oct. 19.
Learn the stories of how these three students celebrate their cultures, check out the complete schedule of Latine Heritage Month events and programs, and be sure to watch a video created by Diana Garcia-Varo ’23, G’24, who identifies as Mexican American. The video is available in English and Spanish.
Evelina Torres
Torres, a Coronat Scholar, studies political science and citizenship and civic engagement (CCE) in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and has both Puerto Rican and Mexican roots on her family tree.
The uniqueness of Maxwell’s political science and CCE programs was instrumental in drawing Torres to Syracuse, aligning perfectly with her career ambitions: focusing on community learning and involvement to discover how public policy impacts how people think about and respond to these policies.
What role does your cultural heritage play in your life? “My heritage guides the way I see the world. The main purpose of my studies, career goals and service goals are in the interest of helping the Latino community. Further, hearing oral histories from my grandmother has guided the way I literally view the world.”
How have you found a cultural home on campus? “Through the clubs I’ve joined. One of the first organizations I became a part of was Dimensions, a mentorship organization for women of color. After being a mentee my freshman year, I became an intern my sophomore year and continue to be a mentor. I’ve attended events with the Mexican Student Association, helped start up the Latine Honors Society and volunteered at La Casita [Cultural Center]. Each of these organizations hosted events that allow me to share the big and small aspects of my culture with my peers. This has brought me so much joy, but most important to me is being able to share this with a community of Latinos.”
What are the highlights of Latine Heritage Month? “The Futurismo Latino event at La Casita from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday will be an incredible display of artwork and a wonderful celebration of community. I’ve also always looked forward to the speaker events. I love hearing from Latine activists and scholars.”
How has your involvement with La Casita helped? “La Casita has allowed me to truly feel like I have a cultural home away from home. While belonging to organizations with my peers has been a wonderful support system, the community at La Casita is intergenerational, which replicates the feeling of home. I’ve also been able to hear and try to speak Spanish more, which also helps me connect with my heritage. Their art installations and events are an exciting way to see how our Latino culture is thriving, and as someone who loves the arts, it has been amazing to be able to meet with and speak to the artists who have come to the center.”
German Nolivos
When Nolivos was 12 years old, his family left Caracas, Venezuela, and relocated to Miami, Florida. He remains connected to his Latin culture, preferring to speak in Spanish, listen to Latin music and cook dishes from his native Venezuela.
Nolivos is a Possee Leadership Scholar and first-generation college student studying both political science in the Maxwell School and public relations in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. When he graduates, Nolivos plans to establish a public relations firm.
Nolivos serves as the vice president of community and government affairs in Student Association—the student governing and advocacy body at Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry—and is also a student senator in University Senate and president of Las Naranjas Spanish Club.
What role does your cultural heritage play in your life? “My heritage is a defining aspect of who I am—it’s ingrained in me. My first language is Spanish. I think, react initially and communicate with my closest friends and family in Spanish. Being in a place like Miami, where Latin culture and heritage are prevalent, has certainly been a significant factor. However, in Syracuse I’ve learned how to build a sense of community, finding people who understand my heritage, who make me happy and help me feel at home.”
How have you found a cultural home on campus? “Participating in multicultural registered student organizations provides a sense of belonging and helps me find community, friends and connections that I might not necessarily find in a classroom setting. Organizations like Raices allowed me to connect with something that runs in my blood. Music and dance are crucial elements of Hispanic culture, and Raices enables us to connect with our deepest roots, continuing our passion for dancing, showcasing the music we’ve heard throughout our lives.
“La Casita is dedicated to advancing an educational and cultural agenda of civic engagement through research, cultural heritage preservation, media and the arts, entirely focused and based on the Hispanic community in Syracuse. It’s an excellent place to connect with the values that characterize the Latino community. And the Spanish-language classes that Syracuse offers go beyond standard language courses to provide an opportunity to learn specific skills in Spanish. These offerings enrich the educational experience and help us stay connected to our culture and heritage while acquiring valuable skills.”
What is the mission of Las Naranjas Spanish Club? “We aim to provide students with a fun and interesting way to use and improve their language skills while also immersing themselves in Spanish and Latin American culture, both on and off campus. Our mission is to bring this rich culture to the University and foster a sense of belonging for all those who seek a piece of home. We want to create a welcoming and inclusive space where students can connect, learn and celebrate the beauty of Spanish and Latin American culture, no matter their background or proficiency level in the language.”
Janeice Lopez
Lopez is a first-generation college student and a proud Puerto Rican who is currently a second-year master’s student in postsecondary higher education in the School of Education. She serves as the graduate assistant for the LGBTQ Resource Center on campus and is passionate about enhancing the college experience for marginalized students.
Once Lopez earns a master’s degree, she plans to work with new college students and their families as the student begins their higher education journey.
What role does your cultural heritage play in your life? “Growing up in the South Bronx, my culture was all around me. From the salsa music coming from my parents’ stereo to the neighbor selling alcapurria’s [Puerto Rican fritters] outside of our apartment. I don’t think I really thought about my culture until I left for college because my culture was so accessible.”
How have you found a cultural home on campus? “Attending predominantly white institutions forced me to find ways to connect to my community while being away from home. I was lucky to find community so quickly at Syracuse because I work in the Intercultural Collective.”
Why did you want to become involved in planning our LHM celebrations? “During last year’s celebrations I was asked to read Elizabeth Acevedo’s poem, ‘Afro-Latina,’ during the opening ceremony. This year I will also participate in the opening ceremony and the LGBTQ+ History Month Potash Collaborative Keynote. I wanted to participate because of how much fun last year’s events were, while showcasing Latine culture for our campus community.”
