As Latine Heritage Month came to a close on October 15, USC hosted a celebration of cultural pride filled with music and cultural exhibitions in the wake of heightened political attacks towards immigrant communities.
Noche De Cultura took place in Founders Park, where students and faculty gathered to enjoy live performances, concessions and closing remarks from Provost Guzman.
Estrella Calvo, a student attendee, said she wanted to support the various student organizations and groups that aimed at supporting students of all backgrounds.
“I think events like this are totally important,” Calvo said. “We need to be uplifting our voices, uplifting disenfranchised voices — [for] all our communities, but here specifically at USC.”
Despite several Latine celebrations being cancelled across the community due to fears of immigration raids, this event did not seem to be clouded by that fear. Organizers and attendees expressed their pride for their heritage and culture.
Performances from USC’s mariachi band, Los Troyanos, started off the event. They were followed by Mexican hat dances and solo artists. USC departments and recognized student organizations set up booths within the area showcasing their mission and welcoming of Latine culture.
Students from various backgrounds traveled from booth to booth, engaging in conversations with community members and learning about their talents and works.
Daniela Rocha Acosta, a USC student and vice president of the League of United Latin American Citizens at USC said that, to the best of her knowledge, this was the first time the university invited student organizations to table at the event.
“I think it’s very pivotal in this moment that we’re living in to have more community, just community action and community building, especially with the campus organizations that we have,” Acosta said.
Other booths included local artists, such as Sonji Figueroa, who wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to connect with local youth.
“I love talking to younger people about culture and art,” Figueroa said. “A lot of my culture, a lot of my art is very culture-based. Growing up in the city, it takes a lot for us to really learn where we’re coming from. I never had an adult that would share that with me, so I want to be that adult that I didn’t have.”
The event was part of a large cooperative effort between different USC schools and departments to welcome all students and members of the public to celebrate Latine heritage.
“These events are really just an opportunity for us to come out and build communities,” said Maria Romero Morales, director of Student and Community Success at USC.
Morales added that she hopes attendees will walk away with a sense of pride for their school-wide community.
“We come from different backgrounds, but at the end of the day, this is one university, we are one community, and we all share our values here at USC,” she said.
USC has highlighted its Latine students through a series of events throughout the month. These have included film screenings that highlight family meals and traditions as well as performing arts that tell stories of labor along the U.S. border.
USC also created a Latine Heritage Month playlist, featuring classics from iconic artists such as Selena and modern hits like Gasolina.