LBCC held its Latino Heritage Month festival to celebrate Hispanic culture and bring the campus community together with live performances, campus clubs and free food Sept. 10 at the Liberal Arts Campus.
The event offered students a space to connect with one another, and with faculty and staff. As music filled the A-quad with vibrant sounds, members of the crowd began dancing and celebrating.
“Being able to come together and celebrate the culture and the families,” Nohel Corral, executive vice president of student services said, explaining why the event was significant for student life.
Corral became emotional as he spoke about his family.
“My parents inspired me because they sacrificed so much for my sibling and me, and being able to host this event means a lot. I’m even wearing my dad’s shirt,” Corral said.
Corral said events like this one can also help incoming students find a sense of belonging on campus.
“The younger generation should feel welcomed, and should have a place to feel welcomed and not feel like they don’t belong. Everyone should be able to connect with the school, and having the festival helps you find people that have gone through the same things as you, or you can find friends during this festival,” Corral said.
Mike Munoz, LBCC superintendent-president, gives a speech during the Latino Heritage Month Kick-off at LBCC’s Liberal Arts Campus on Sept. 10. (Jasmine Rosales)
The celebration included live music from Los Muchachos, whose guitarist, Noe Sandoval, shared his personal perspective on the festival and traditional music.
Sandoval said the event gave him a greater sense of representation on campus.
“As a Latino person, it makes me feel more seen for my personality and doesn’t make it feel like I belong in a place,” Sandoval said.
Sandoval expressed his grievances about the negative racial stereotypes he faces.
“They just assume that everybody is like a certain way and that they make me seem like that and everything,” Sandoval said.
When asked who inspired him, Sandoval named Guillermo Ochoa, a Mexican professional soccer goalkeeper.
“He was just one of the few Mexicans in this world that was about actually making it to a bigger picture,” Sandoval said.
For Sandoval, keeping traditional music alive is also personal. He connected the music he performed to his childhood and memories listening to it with his father.
“My dad listened to this music any time we felt something. We are just able to put this type of music on to help bring our moods up instead of keeping us down, like with what’s going on around the world. Having this music keep our mood up instead of sorrow helps,” Sandoval said.
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