Carolina Latinx Center

As I reflect on the past year serving as the Program Assistant for the Carolina Latinx Center, I am filled with immense gratitude and pride. This role has been more than just a job; it has been a journey of personal and professional growth, as well as an opportunity to contribute to a vibrant and dynamic community. Here are just a few highlights: 1. Hosting El Inicio, our fully bilingual student and family welcome, was a remarkable experience. This event provided a warm and supportive environment for new students and their families, helping them feel connected and valued from the start. A highlight of this initiative was the creation of a bilingual resource guide, designed to empower families by offering essential information and tools to actively engage with their students' academic journeys. By bridging language barriers and fostering a sense of belonging, El Inicio set the stage for a successful and enriching college experience for all. 2. The keynote for our Latinx Heritage Month was Katya Echazarreta! As the first Mexican-born woman to go to space, Katya's story is a powerful testament to perseverance, determination, and breaking barriers. Her commitment to empowering the next generation left an incredible mark, inspiring us to dream bigger and reach for the stars. 3. La Conferencia brought together students, professionals, and community leaders to celebrate and discuss the achievements, challenges, and future of the Latinx community in North Carolina. We were thrilled to host students from UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Charlotte, UNC Wilmington, Elon University, and more, fostering a rich environment for meaningful dialogue, networking, and collaboration. La Conferencia was a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of our community and paving the way for continued growth and success. 4. Éxitos, our graduation ceremony, was a heartfelt celebration of the accomplishments and hard work of our graduating students. The ceremony was a beautiful testament to the resilience, determination, and community spirit that define our Latinx students, sending them off with pride and encouragement as they embark on their next chapter. 5. I am most grateful for my team of student ambassadors. Having such a supportive and talented team has made my role not only fulfilling but also truly enjoyable. Together, we have tackled challenges, celebrated victories, and created impactful programs that have strengthened our community. Thank you all for being an essential part of my journey. I am deeply thankful to everyone who has been a part of my first year as a professional – my amazing team Josmell and Marcela, the supportive community, especially the students. Your passion, dedication, and spirit have been a constant source of inspiration. I am excited about this upcoming school year and the continued growth of the Carolina Latinx Center!

Reflecting on the past year, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I've been given. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Carolina Latinx Center for believing in my ideas and ambitions. Coming to Carolina was a time of transition, but thanks to the CLC, that transition was smoother and allowed me to make a meaningful impact. Serving as a Student Ambassador during the academic year, I found my passions in education equity and programming for students like me. Thank you, CLC, for being more than just a team—you are a familia. A special shoutout to Elsa Landeros and Ana Diaz for becoming amazing mentors and friends; your support helped me realize the substantial impact I could make. Throughout the year, I attended El Inicio, the Latinx welcome to Carolina. I had the incredible opportunity to introduce and meet our Latinx Heritage Month keynote speaker, Katya Echazarreta, the first Mexican woman to go to space. I also launched the Latinx Research Initiative, hosted a panel highlighting Latinx researchers at UNC, and designed a fellowship program launching in the fall of 2024. Additionally, I attended La Conferencia, our annual conference showcasing knowledge created by Latinx individuals. I look forward to the rest of my time at Carolina. This is just the beginning!

The Alliance would like to thank everyone that attended the screening of Manzanar Diverted: When Water Becomes Dust. We hope that you enjoyed the documentary and discussion over the specialty catering provided by Momo's Master: Himalayan Bistro! Be on the lookout for more Alliance events and opportunities during the next academic year! About the Alliance: Founded in 2021, the Alliance brings together four key Academic and Community Engagement Centers on campus, including the Sonja Hayes Stone Center for Black Culture and History/IAAR, American Indian Center at UNC, Carolina Latinx Center, and the Asian American Center

Thank you Kidzu Children's Museum for the space to have fun with kids & staff. Besides being a Public Artist I love to teah mosaics to all ages and engage with my community in #chapelhill. Here is just a small sample of how much fun we had!! Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Triangle ArtWorks Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Carolina Latinx Center Thank you!

Exciting news! We are thrilled to announce the selection of 21 talented individuals for the 2024-2025 LIDER: Carolina Leadership Institute Fellowship! After reviewing an impressive pool of 68 applications, we have chosen a diverse group of 21 LIDER Fellows representing 7 colleges and universities across North Carolina. This year, we are proud to welcome two new institutions to the LIDER family: UNC Charlotte and Central Piedmont Community College! Our LIDER Fellows come from a range of institutions, including: - UNC Chapel Hill - Duke University - NC State University - Wake Tech Community College - UNC Greensboro - UNC Charlotte - Central Piedmont Community College These students are already leaders, change-makers, and innovators in their own way. Through this fellowship, they will embark on a transformative journey of leadership development, and fellowship building. Marcela and I could not be more excited! And, we're excited to share that our 2024-2025 cohort will have the opportunity to visit: - Duke University in November 2024 - Washington, D.C. in January 2025 Join us in congratulating our 2024-2025 LIDER Fellows and welcoming them to the Carolina Leadership Institute family! #LIDERFellows #CarolinaLeadershipInstitute #LeadershipDevelopment #NorthCarolina #HigherEducation Carolina Latinx Center UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Marcela Torres-Cervantes Cici Salazar

I am pleased to announce my completion of a BA in Economics at UNC-Chapel Hill! 🎓 Some of my accomplishments include: - Ronald E. McNair Scholar - Mi Pueblo Co-President - Carolina Latinx Center Student Ambassador - Carolina Research Scholar - Magna Cum Laude - The Hunt Institute Impact Fellow - Honors Carolina Laureate - Dean's List All while being a first-generation and low-income student! I would like to thank everyone who has supported my journey, from late-night study sessions and laughs at the Carolina Latinx Center, to those who connected me with essential resources. This is just the beginning. I am proud to announce that I will be attending Vanderbilt University to pursue a Ph.D. in Learning, Teaching, & Diversity. I have been honored with the Provost Graduate Fellowship and the Russel G. Hamilton Scholarship. A heartfelt thank you to my peers, my faculty mentor, the TRIO McNair Scholars, the Carolina Latinx Center for their immense love and care, and LatinxEd for igniting my passion for education equity. I am super excited to continue my academic journey under the guidance of Dr. Luis Leyva and to join the Vanderbilt community! Go Dores!

It’s not everyday you get to meet the founding president of an organization that has helped bring essential funding and resources to Latino non-profits and leaders in North Carolina! Shout out to Luis Miranda + the Hispanic Federation + their continued impact via dedicated leaders like Lariza Garzon. You may know Luis as Lin Manuel Miranda’s dad. (My 5-year old knows him as Vivo’s dad. 😎) Yesterday, we got to know him as a philanthropist, political strategist, and leader. Talk about a dynamic storyteller! I'm excited to read his new book, Relentless. Many thank you’s are in order for this special event at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (my alma mater): Carolina Latinx Center, Carolina Alumni, ACRED, Josmell Perez (missed you!), Lou Patalano, Veronica Flaspoehler, and of course, Luis, himself.

During my senior year at UNC, I embarked on two positions: one as a Student Ambassador for the Carolina Latinx Center and the other as Co-President of Mi Pueblo at UNC, the largest Latinx student group on campus. These positions were a labor of love. I met students who cared about their community, students who faced the same struggles I did in undergrad, and made valuable connections with people who I will continue leaning on for support. From creating social media posts to organizing events for over 200 people, I learned what it takes to be a leader. It isn't just about time management and delegation, it is about vulnerability, trust, and compassion. I would like to thank the Mi Pueblo Team, our club advisor Marcela Torres-Cervantes, and Bryan Sorto Hernández for being the best Co-President I could’ve asked for. It takes a village. I am glad to call UNC Latinx students and allies my family. ❤️

For my first ever post, I wanted to reflect on the busy but rewarding third year I had at Carolina! This year I had the honor of serving as the Health in Action Co-Chair (HIA) for Mi Pueblo at UNC, the largest Latinx organization on campus. Alongside my Co-Chair Cecilia Oviedo Barcenas, we were able to host and coordinate several events that targeted physical and mental wellness for the Latinx community. My personal favorite that we hosted was our Wellness Bags. We were able to create over 100 wellness bags containing various wellness items and essentials that are usually looked over. With this event, we were able to give back to our community and provide necessary resources. Being a part of Mi Pueblo’s team was such a blissful experience where I was able to embrace my culture while creating a safe place for others with similar values. This past academic year I was also selected to be a part of the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School DEI Office’s and the Carolina Latinx Center’s collaboration: Líder 2023-2024 Cohort. The Carolina Leadership Institute is a prestigious, year-long program that fosters highly interactive learning experiences and provides a platform for Latinx undergraduate students across North Carolina to grow as leaders. Throughout this program, I was able to learn how to further enhance my leadership skills while intertwining my culture within it. I experienced many vulnerable but memorable moments that deepened my understanding of what’s it’s like to be a true leader. Bonding with my cohort, traveling to Washington D.C., and randomly surviving a ropes course (my first one ever) are definitely experiences I’ll remember forever. Muchas gracias to those who made it possible, Marcela Torres-Cervantes, Kevin Ortiz, MBA, Josmell Perez, and Cici Salazar. I was also a part of ALPFA UNC-Chapel Hill’s executive board for this past academic year and served as the Consulting Officer. With this role, I helped contribute to events that enhanced professional empowerment for the Latinx community. We were able to provide resources and tools such as networking, resume building, and opportunities in exploring various job sectors. ALPFA helped break many barriers that most Latinx students struggle with. I am glad I got to be a part of that impact. While diligently managing these positions, I was also working as a Legal Immigration Assistant at Perdomo Law Firm PLLC and continue to do so. My summer internship turned into a part-time job that I have grown very passionate about. I will have a year of working here this next month! I have always advocated for the Latinx community and having a job that allows me to directly contribute to it has been the best. From addressing clients needs, forming arguments for cases, and lending a hand whenever needed, this job has been a great learning experience. I look forward to my last year at Carolina and excited to see what it brings!

I am excited to announce that I am officially an alum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill! I graduated with a B.A.Ed in Human Development and Family Science with Honors and Highest Distinction and a B.A. in Geography with Highest Distinction. These past four years have been filled with amazing experiences that fueled my personal, academic, and professional growth including: - James M. Johnston Scholar - Golden LEAF Scholar - Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar - Honors Carolina - Phi Beta Kappa - Dean’s List - Stephen S. Birdsall Award in Human Geography - President of the Geography Undergraduate Advisory Committee (2022-23) - Pulso Scholar - National Science Foundation Research Fellow - Co-author of the Catalog of Ocean Data Science Initiatives - William C. Friday Arts and Humanities Research Scholar - Senior Honors Thesis at the School of Education - Intern at Bladen County Cooperative Extension; Men and Women United for Youth and Families; Honors Carolina; and Carolina Hunger Initiative I am extremely grateful for my family, friends, professors, and mentors who provided support and encouragement during my Carolina journey. Special thank you to the UNC School of Education, Human Development & Family Science at UNC School of Education, UNC Geography, Honors Carolina, Carolina Latinx Center, The Golden LEAF Foundation, and UNC Scholars Program! I am also happy to announce that I will be working as a College Adviser through the Carolina College Advising Corps starting in August! I will be responsible for providing resources, support, and mentorship to promote high school students' post-grad success in Chatham County. I am so excited to use the lessons and knowledge that I have gained at UNC in this amazing opportunity!