Community Engagement

Co-curricular engagement on campus

My second semester at SciencesPo Campus de Reims, I was on the executive board as the head of the Culture Pole for a student led association entitled the Associated of Latin American Solidarity (ALAS). One of the ALAS projects I was most proud of was a Feminist demonstration we organized on campus on November 25th which marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It consisted of about twenty students performing A Rapist in your Path, a Chilean feminist performance piece protesting violence against women. The song emphasizes the plight many women endure in Latin America and elsewhere and quickly spread worldwide. Given the prevalence of street harassment in France and even after the law passed in 2018 that aimed at mitigating the frequency, this poignant manifestation was greatly needed. Fortunately, we were able to have enough performers to repeat the demonstration in Spanish, English, and French. The French translation already existed since the performance had already France and garnered enough recognition and support. It was encouraging to see my French friends asking to learn the original Spanish version and likewise to have them teach me the French one. The support we received from the administration and student body was a beautiful sign of solidarity and I feel incredibly proud of what we achieved. We were able to unite women and allies from all walks of life to participate in a public expression of resistance against injustice in a peaceful and emotional way.

Local/Global Civic Engagement

In the Fall of 2020, I was part of the Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) committee, which was a grassroots effort to celebrate our wonderful Latinx history in the city of Pittsburgh. In coalition with organizations in the community, alongside clubs at Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pittsburgh’s Latinx Student Association (LSA) led HHM with weekly town hall meetings regarding important topics. HHM spans from September 15th until October 15th and we made sure to pack the month full of events for all members of the Pittsburgh community. As a committee member, I attended weekly committee and sub-committee meetings to organize the month’s events. We were able to fundraise and support local Latinx owned businesses in the community. We also created an online artifact showcase that was filled with different keepsakes to present the rich cultures found in Latin America. I was also able to coordinate a virtual dance workshop with a local dance studio, Los Sabrosos, which despite being online was a huge success.

Connections inside and outside of the classroom

After two semesters of college level french, I worked in Paris for a summer with my brother as a community assistant for Academic Programs International (API))during a summer program at Parson’s Paris campus. This immersive experience working with minors in a foreign country taught me not only how to be a responsible adult, but also how to be quick on my feet when speaking french. I served as a liaison between the students and the university and served as a temporary legal guardian during excursions. One of the most significant memories I have during this experience was when I had to take a student to the doctor to supervise and translate. I remember holding her hand and reassuring her that everything would be alright. Thankfully, the level of french used by the doctor was within my reach and it went over smoothly. That being said, I am grateful that I was able to use my French language skills for good and help the student get the care she needed.