Students, staff and faculty members, along with their families, got together this month for a celebration of the richness and diversity of Latin American cultures and communities at McMaster.
Organized by the Latin American Network of McMaster University — LANMU — the Oct. 1 event marked the beginning of Latin American Heritage Month with live music, empanadas and a lively gathering.
The celebration in CIBC Hall also bore testament to the LANMU community’s rapid growth, with an even larger crowd than in previous years, a new research showcase and the announcement of new initiatives.
From left: Sophia Cohen Galvao, Valeria Flores Zambrano and Keila Elyasi Gonzalez introduce the journal Entre Mundos at LANMU’s celebration of Latin American Heritage Month.
A roar of support greeted students Sophia Cohen Galvao, Valeria Flores Zambrano and Keila Elyasi Gonzalez, who introduced Entre Mundos, a new student-led peer-reviewed journal that will bring together scholarship, commentary and creative work on topics related to Latin America, the Caribbean, and their diasporas.
Entre Mundos is accepting applications for peer reviewers and will open up applications to contributions from across Canada over the winter.
Click here to learn more about Entre Mundos
Brasa McMaster
The audience also cheered loudly to welcome students Helena Cordeiro, Julia Rocha and Tiago Carvalho, who took the stage to talk about Brasa McMaster, a club that supports students from Brazil.
But you don’t have to be Brazilian to join: The student-led initiative also welcomes anyone who is interested in learning about Brazil, its culture, food, languages and more.
“I’ve lived here for nine years, and this is the first time I’ve found a community of Brazilians and it makes me so excited,” said Cordeiro, who is in her third year at McMaster.
For Carvalho, a first-year student from Brazil, joining the executive of Brasa McMaster has been the key to creating a community that feels welcoming and familiar.
“As a first year, I’m so happy to be part of this initiative so that in the future, other first years can come in and have the community, have the people that they can reach out to for support and resources — whatever they need — and also join our events and have fun.”
Having a McMaster chapter of Brasa also sends a positive signal to incoming Brazilian students, he said.
“It can help you understand the culture of a university — knowing that they have Brasa can make a Brazilian feel more comfortable about applying there, feel like there is a community that’s going to welcome them and make them feel integrated.”
LANMU co-founder and event organizer Rodrigo Narro Perez could barely move or speak into the mic without an attendee interrupting him for a handshake, a laugh or a hug.
A showcase of research excellence
Student Caio Miranda Miliante gestures toward his research poster while discussing it with professor Maureen Lagos.
Another new initiative this year was the research poster presentation.
Students from across faculties shared and answered questions about their work on topics from a wide range disciplines, including glaciology, Afro-Mexican identity, the experiences of local Latinx Hamiltonians during the pandemic, and materials science.
Nathalia Navarrete-Valdivieso’s research on Afro-Mexican identity showcased 12 articles that cover multiple aspects of life, including music, culture, politics, human rights, and challenges such as racism and sexism.
‘I hope one day Afro-Mexicans can truly be accepted by one and all,” concludes Nathalia Navarrete-Valdivieso’s research on Afro-Mexican identity.
This gathering was just one of many events LANMU packs into the year — some social, some academic, some for research, and some to help students, faculty and staff network and strengthen connections.
Singer Samma Mendonca performs at this year’s LANMU celebration of Latin American Heritage Month.
A few hundred students, staff and faculty members attended this year’s celebration of Latin American Heritage Month.
About LANMU
LANMU was formed in 2021, a grassroots organization managed by a group of students, faculty and staff. Their primary goal was to create a space where a huge breadth of community members with diverse Latin America connections can support and advocate for each other, says assistant professor and LANMU co-founder Rodrigo Narro Perez.
Since its creation, LANMU has played a pivotal role in the creation of the Interdisciplinary Minor in Latin American and Latinx Studies, launched the Latin American Health Science Student Success Initiative, supported students through its Latin American and Latinx Student Mentorship Program, empowered Latina/e/x women through the Poderosas Circle initiative, and organized graduation celebrations for Latinx students.