The Latinos Unidos club were active this fall, beginning with their Día de los Muertos celebration on Oct. 30 and continuing with a handmade ofrenda display, which remained available through Nov. 3 for anyone wishing to honor loved ones who had passed.
While the holiday traditionally takes place Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, the Día de los Muertos celebration was held on campus early, allowing roughly students and staff to share Mexican culture with the campus community. During the celebration, attendees created art pieces such as painted styrofoam skulls, decorative paper banners, photo frames, and even a collaborative group painting. A slideshow also ran on a projector, allowing students to add photos and messages dedicated to those they’ve lost.
For many, the day held deep personal meaning.
“As far as like personal me and Abigail, we both lost someone very near and dear to our hearts in the past two years,” said Latinos Unidos President Leslie Valerio. “It made a very sort of like a bittersweet moment to celebrate sharing that vulnerability with everyone. It was very emotional for both of us, but it was beautiful.”
The event was described by several club members as a passion project, with Treasurer Angel Luna beginning the planning process during the summer.
“I would say it’s a lot of work. It’s a lot more work than you’d think,” Luna said. “There’s a lot more paperwork involved, and you have to plan things out at least a month in advance, or way longer than that.”
Support from the community played a key role in bringing the event to life. Family and friends assisted with elements of the ofrenda and decorations.
“It does go to show, like reaching out to the community, our own community, it really does take a village,” Valerio said. “It really shows with all of our parents being involved in our leadership.”
In November, Latinos Unidos continued their cultural programming by hosting the Vaquero Baile on Nov. 14, a cowboy-themed dance that was open to all students. A community band performed for free, helping bring the event together.
Entry cost $20 and included food, drinks, and cowboy themed decorations across the lower J-Building. The night also featured speeches, line dancing, and a best-dressed contest, creating a lively space where students of various backgrounds came together.
The event reflected the club’s ongoing mission of cultural sharing and inclusivity.
“Latinos Unidos is a safe space for a lot of people in this community,” Valerio said. “What we really hope is to advocate for the Latino community where people can have fun regardless if Latino or not. Respect is mutual agreement, respect for each other’s identity, respect for each other’s culture, and we just want to have a fun time.”
Vice President Abigail Camacho described the organization as a blend of culture, leadership, and community support.
“Our really big thing is leadership and making sure that we are giving the community the resources that we need,” Camacho said. “We host various workshops in order to help with employment.”
For many members, joining Latinos Unidos has also been a journey of reconnecting with their roots.
“I am Mexican although I never was shown any culture from Mexico or like any celebrations,” Camacho said. “Growing up, I wasn’t accepted into it because of me not being able to speak Spanis It’s become a really deep, meaningful thing for me to be a part of this.”
Luna shared a similar experience of rediscovering culture through the club.
“I never really felt included. I never spoke Spanish to my family,” Luna said. “But being in this club and participating in these event it’s really cool, like incorporating that into JJC and having everyone join us from all these different demographics.”
Valerio said the club is committed to learning about the full range of Latino cultures, not only the traditions they are most familiar with.
“Latino culture is so diverse and we’re always pushing ourselves to continue learning more about Latino culture and advocating for all Latino cultures,” Valerio said.
This became particularly important after a student expressed concern that many of the club’s events focused heavily on Mexican traditions.
“It’s because it’s all we know,” Valerio said. “We really want to advocate for finding resources to learn more about cultures other than our own.”
To address this, the club plans to close the semester with an event centered on a different Latino culture in December
Through all their events and workshops, Latinos Unidos says their purpose remains clear: to provide support, advocacy, and space for cultural connection among both Latino and non-Latino students.
“We’re open to new cultures and new ideas,” Camacho said. “And we’re always reciprocal giving back to the community, that’s our main goal.”
