Within the Center for Intercultural Engagement (CIE) at Anderson University, there are culture clubs that you can join as students. One of those clubs is the Hispanic and Latino Student Association (HLSA), which is under the leadership of students Ludvick Kelley and Katte Escobar, who are the president and vice president of HLSA respectively.
HLSA is set to host their La Fiesta event on Nov. 15, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. in the bottom of Decker Hall. This is the second time that Kelley and Escabar will be teaming up together and they hope to have an even bigger event than last year. With food from a variety of different cultures and some other additions that the team hopes to bring in, this is an event that they invite all members of AU to come and experience with them.
Events like La Fiesta are just one example of all that HLSA has to offer. Through their meetings, events and community building, HLSA is able to create a space for all students to come together and celebrate Hispanic and Latino cultures.
According to the CIE’s webpage, culture clubs are a way for students of all different backgrounds to build community among their members and through campus. Through HLSA, students are able to learn more about hispanic and latino cultures specifically. HLSA’s mission is “to educate the student community about the culture through different elements such as: music, dance, and food.” Through that they are able to strengthen cultural pride, awareness and knowledge on campus.
“HLSA is a club that highlights hispanic culture and latino culture. It is a club to have everybody involved in, there is no boundary, really it’s for anybody. It’s for the community. It should matter because in this current time in life, friends are really important, people that have your back and support you because it is really easy to find yourself in a lonely spot. It is important to have that community,” said Kelly.
You may know of HLSA through their booth from the homecoming street fair featuring steak tacos, agua fresca and other snacks. This booth has a lot of popularity for them and allows for them to share a bit of their culture to both current students and alumni. Majority of their funds for their other events like La Fiesta come from the profits they make at street fairs.
When talking about how students can create a more diverse and accepting community, Escobar said, “getting involved in things that might make you uncomfortable. I know for a lot of people joining clubs that you may have no idea about or anything in common with can be uncomfortable. It is so beautiful to see those who do not identify as Hispanic or Latinx come to our club meeting and surround themselves with people who may look, speak, or act differently from them.”
Having clubs like HLSA allows students a space to interact with peers who are of a similar background but it also pushes those who are not to get out of their comfort zone and experience something that may be new to them. By going to an HLSA meeting or event, you are given the opportunity to learn and grow as an individual in a safe and respectful space.
Kelly and Escobar invite all students who are interested in HLSA to stop by and join them in their meetings and events.
HLSA meets typically on a biweekly basis in Decker 230. To stay up to date with any meetings or events that HLSA is planning, follow them on Instagram at @au_hlsa, or stop by the CIE which is located on the second floor in Decker and scan the HLSA club’s qr code to subscribe to their emailing list.
