Latinas Unidas: Building Community, Connection, and Culture at Mount Saint Mary’s University

by Isabella Vargas

Latinas Unidas, one of the four cultural clubs Mount Saint Mary’s has to offer, is dedicated to sharing Hispanic culture and community with young Hispanic students and others on campus.

What started in the early 2000s as a small club with little to no events has now grown into one that hosts many events throughout the school year, thanks to current senior and club president Andrea Zavala.

“At first, we didn’t have any events; we were just a club on Engage. My main goal was to make the club more active. Now that I’m graduating, I feel like we are in a really good place,” said Zavala.

With 54% of the student body coming from Hispanic/Latinx backgrounds, a club like Latinas Unidas is the perfect way for students to share their cultures in a safe space where they can be appreciated. This gives other students, especially those who do not come from or share the same backgrounds, a chance to learn and educate themselves on these beautiful cultures.

“Latinas Unidas is a space to feel comfortable with your culture, regardless of what part of Latin America you are from, to learn about new and different cultures,” said Zavala. “A place where we can all relate and share each other’s traditions.”

The club makes sure to incorporate all the different Latin American countries. Whether through various topics at club meetings, selling traditional foods, or sharing music from different cultures, the club ensures that everyone feels seen and welcome. It’s not just about one culture, but everyone’s culture.

“We do like to incorporate different cultures, you know, not just Mexican. We like to talk about every single country,” said Zavala.

Incorporating so many important aspects of different cultures from Latin America is a great way to find what these cultures have in common. Family is among the most essential and shared values in Hispanic/Latinx cultures. No matter where someone is from, family is always a common ground. The community built within the club has become like a family, establishing programs like Hermana y Hermanita to create bonds between the girls in the club.

“This year, we created a Hermana y Hermanita program, where freshmen and sophomores are paired up with someone a grade above them so that if they have any questions or just need a friend, there is that constant communication,” said Zavala.

“We match everyone with someone they have similarities with, just so there’s that welcoming vibe when someone enters the club, and we have little Hermana y Hermanita bonding days so they can get to know each other better.”

Having a program like Hermana y Hermanita is a great way to build friendships, especially for freshmen members of the club. Andrea started the program hoping it would be something fun for everyone. She also wanted to introduce mentorship within the club, something she didn’t have when she first joined. This year, she was finally able to make it happen.

“I have been a club member since my first year and have now been the president for the past two years, and I’ve been trying to start a mentorship within the club. I feel like it’s fun to have someone you can rely on, whether it’s about social life or questions about school stuff. So this year, we had enough members to make it happen,” said Zavala.

The help of bonding days and the welcoming vibe from the members leads to a sense of trust within the club, especially when tough topics surrounding Hispanic/Latinx communities are brought up. The club shares information about how these communities are being affected today and ensures their members know it is a safe space to share and find support.

“We have red cards that we post and share with information from the library, with resources, and Mount-approved information that we are allowed to share. With the stuff going on now, the library has resources for us to share during club meetings or on social media,” said Zavala.

Not only are they educating their members on issues affecting their communities, but they are also informing others on campus.

Finding your community and your people is the start of a fun college experience. Having a club like Latinas Unidas helps many students from Hispanic backgrounds feel welcomed and seen in the chaos of college life.