The Latine Student Alliance’s board of directors at a meeting. (Courtesy of Erik Monroy)
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Earlier this fall, the United States celebrated Latine Heritage Month, honoring generations of Latine people whose histories, cultures and contributions have shaped the nation. In Boulder, that spirit came alive through tradition, music and community.
For Erick Monroy, a senior at the University of Colorado Boulder and president of the Latine Student Alliance, the month meant much more than a mark on the calendar. It offered LSA and students a chance to come together and celebrate their shared identity. The social club, Monroy said, has grown rapidly since its founding in 2023, from a handful of members to a 15-person board and events drawing more than 100 attendees.
Latine Heritage Month, federally recognized as Hispanic Heritage Month, was founded as a month-long celebration in 1988. The month highlights the multiple independence days celebrated by Latin American countries beginning on Sept. 15. Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica commemorate their independence on that day, followed by Mexico on Sept. 16, Chile on the 18 and Belize on the 21.
At CU Boulder, students marked the month with events organized by LSA and other Latine-based organizations. LSA aims to create a dedicated space for Latine students to build community and exchange culture across campus.
“The basis of it was really the idea that we wanted a space where individuals that found themselves identifying as Latine, could find a community, especially a home, during these times,” said Monroy. “One of the biggest things we like to do is bring in our culture and share that with other types of cultures, and creating that alliance, because we believe that the culture is more rich when you’re able to share it.”
In collaboration with the university, LSA hosted several activities throughout the month. Maria Genao-Homs, director of CU Boulder’s Center for Cultural Connections and Community, explained what the center’s goal was for recognizing the month.
“We lead a planning committee that is comprised of campus partners. The committee plans programming to highlight the contributions of Latinx/e/a/o’s to U.S. history as well as histories and stories of Latin America — the aim is to celebrate what we call Latinidad,” Genao-Homs said.
One of the month’s most anticipated events, La Pachanga, featured a live mariachi performance, traditional dance, food and, of course, music on Farrand Field.
“The word la pachanga, it’s kind of like a slang word for celebration and being loud, and so, right now it’s more important to be loud and take up space,” Monroy said.
Monroy described events like La Pachanga as moments to reflect, celebrate and connect. They also provided opportunities to discuss how the Latine community is feeling and to share conversations about current challenges in the United States.
In the nine months since President Trump’s inauguration, his administration has devoted billions toward mass deportations through policies such as revoking student visas, expanding detention centers, limiting access to healthcare and mobilizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement in unprecedented ways.
For Monroy and many others, those policies don’t just exist on paper, they feel personal.
“Under this administration, I would say there was a point where I was hopeless,” Monroy said. “It felt like there was attack, another attack, another attack, another attack. And it just felt like it was just towards my culture.”
Having grown up with immigrant parents, Monroy remembers the fear that, while he was growing up, they might not be there. Monroy was thankful and proud that his parents have their citizenship. That experience fuels his commitment to use his voice.
“They came into this country, not knowing the language, not knowing the culture, all for the opportunity for a better life, and for the opportunity to, I say this a lot, for me to even be here at this university, to actually have a voice and even learn English,” Monroy said.
According to Genao-Homs, using that voice during Latine Heritage Month is meaningful, but it must extend beyond a single month of celebration.
“The contributions of Latinx/e/a/o people to this country has been nuanced and significant. This is no different here in the CU-Boulder community. For this reason, it is critical that we take the time to put a spotlight on this community not just once a year and for a month, but consistently and year-round,” Genao-Homs said.
Monroy said that visibility itself is a form of celebration. A way for the community to affirm its strength and identity.
“Even in spaces where you’re being prosecuted, where you’re being targeted for just how you speak, for the way you dance, for the music that you listen to, that it’s okay to come together,” Monroy said. “So it’s kind of like a different type of protest. It’s in the protest of celebration.”
CU Independent Multimedia Editor Linus Loughry contributed Spanish translations to this reporting.
CU Independent Staff Writer Ann Marie Vanderveen contributed Spanish translations to this reporting.
Contact CU Independent Managing Editor Satori Griffith at satori.griffith@colorado.edu
