The Latine Student Assembly (LSA) is back for their 11th annual Hecho en LATAM, their biggest Latine event of the year. Doors open at 6 p.m. at Founders Park on Friday, April 11.
Dímelo has compiled a list of everything you need to know ahead of the event.
Food: There will be catering and street vendors with diverse Latin American cuisine and desserts.
- Mofongos, Fluff Ice, arroz rojo, jugo de chinola, horchata, arroz con leche, and churros
Organizations: Hecho en LATAM has invited local organizations to come connect, celebrate, and support.
- Brown Beret’s, A Place Called Home, Underground Trojans, and Central City Neighborhood Parks
Activities: LSA has selected a range of recreational diversions
- Barts Carts, Pixter photo booth, and active airbrush
Performers: The lineup for Hecho en LATAM contains a headliner, supporting act, and DJ.
- Headliner: Sophie Castillo, who is gaining popularity for increasing the viability of British Latinidad with a combination of genres including bedroom pop, bachata, indie, salsa, and more.
- Supporting Act: Alejandro, will be returning after performing originals like “Besarte” and covers from popular bands like Mana at last year’s event.
- DJ: Ambiente Central, a group known for their collection of Central Latin American-rooted sounds and rhythms.
These performers were selected through a long process in hopes of showcase the various ranges of sounds in the Latine diaspora.
Peruvian singer-songwriter Alejandro, who is also a student at USC, shares his excitement to contribute to this goal.
“I want to remind people in LA and USC that we are here and we also make music that’s cool and danceable,” Alejandro said. “It makes me feel seen.”
The performer also provided us with a sneak peek of his setlist this Friday.
He plans to bring back his first song, “Besarte,” his most popular song, “Pringao,” and a salsa pop song, “El Beso Del Coyote.” Additionally, he teased a special duet cover of “Hips Don’t Lie” with Sophia Gomez.
“I don’t only perform music from a specific country in South America, we love going everywhere and feeling the different spectrum of Latin music,” he said. “It’s really nice to be able to sing in Spanish and for people to understand you, I know there’s an audience [at Hecho] who wants to hear.”
This event has been in the works for almost a year now, as LSA began its preparations last summer in order to have as much ethnic, regional, and cultural representation.
“It’s a celebration of the diversity within the Latine community that makes USC special,” said Samantha Jarquin, one of the co-executive directors. “It’s a place for us to share our voice and all the different aspects of our identity.”
Latine students who have previously attended this event share this sentiment, highlighting the desire for a cultural avenue.
“I think it’s incredibly important especially in a predominately white institution,” sophomore Giovana Barragan said. “Not just my culture, but many other ones across Latin America, it’s beautiful to see.”
Other students share that they are content with the selection of performers and activities.
“It’s my first time attending, but I am most excited for the DJ set of Ambiente Central,” sophomore David Padilla said. “They chose a great artist.”
Originally, the event was called “Hecho en LA,” and it was founded as a celebration of the Latine community within the surrounding Los Angeles Community.
However, last year, on its tenth anniversary, LSA made the decision to rename the event in an effort to recognize all of the Latino population.
According to organizers, this rebrand was made because they believe that LA can sometimes be synonymous with Mexican, Chicano, or Salvadoran culture. This connection, they mention, is not representative of all Latine communities at USC.
“We are trying to improve and hold ourselves to a higher standard, so we would appreciate feedback and we’ll take that into consideration as we plan the next Hecho en LATAM,” Jarquin said.
According to the 2021 U.S. Census data, Latinos are the largest ethnic group in L.A., comprising almost 47% of the population. USC’s Facts and Statistics for Fall 2024 state that 17.1% of the student population at USC is Hispanic or Latino.
Following this new name and this large presence, LSA hopes to embrace and encompass the large umbrella of traditions with its selected foods, performances, activities, and organizations.
Tickets are open to all students on Engage SC days before the event and will be announced on the LSA Instagram.
Dimelo will also be covering the event on our social media. Be sure to check our content on our Instagram and Snapchat.