by: Lindsay Cox
Are you interested in Latin American culture? What about learning to speak Spanish? Parkland’s Club Latino offers students a variety of opportunities. The club gives non-native Spanish speakers the chance to sharpen their Spanish learning skills. Club members can still contribute ideas and participate in conversations by speaking English during the first thirty minutes of the meeting, then switch to Spanish during the second half. Being able to speak or understand Spanish is not a requirement; Club Latino isinclusive.
Club Latino is involved in the community and regularly looks for volunteer opportunities. The club is currently working on a plan to visit high schools in Champaign-Urbana to talk to students and motivate them to enroll in college.
Club Latino members volunteer to be translators at Central High School for parent teacher conferences. The club also hosts other service activities, race talks, kickbacks and regular club meetings.
When asked, George Barton reveals he has been involved in Club Latino for one year. He grew up with a lot Latino influence but doesn’t speak Spanish at all. He thought that by joining Club Latino, he would be able to get more in touch with his Latino identity. Barton recommends the club to everyone. Barton stated that it is a good way to expand your horizons.
Christopher Arreola joined the club this semester. The club’s advisor, Charles Larenas, came to Centennial High School when Arreola was a senior. Arreola talked about when he was on the wrong path, hanging out with the wrong people and making the wrong decisions. When he saw a lot of Hispanics who were aspiring to go to college, he knew when he started college that he would join this club.
“After cutting out all the bad people in his life, the Parkland student is now on a better path and enrolled in classes”
After cutting out all the bad people in his life, the Parkland student is now on a better path and enrolled in classes. When he came across an advertisement for the Club Latino on Parkland’s website and remembered the day that Charles visited his high school, Arreola decided to get involved with the club, and the rest is history. Arreola is interested in becoming a programmer.
Club Latino President, Francisco Gamino, is a student who plays many different roles on campus. He juggles school, work, being vice president of Phi Theta Kappa, being a member of the Programming Board and making sure that he has enough time for his own club. Gamino is always working on ways to better himself and to better Club Latino.
Gamino takes the time to make sure every voice is heard during meetings. Gamino’s goal for club Latino is to teach people about who Latinx students are and to inspire high schoolers in the Champaign-Urbana to attend college. The student plans on transferring to the University of Illinois in the spring of 2020 to further his career as a computer programmer. His long-term goal is to grow Club Latino before he leaves.
Club Latino is hosting an event on Oct.15 in room X–115 at 12 p.m. called Shades of Latin-X. Members of Club Latino will be speaking on a panel to show how Latin Americans are similar and different. Surprisingly, not a lot of people know that there is a difference between being Hispanic and Latino. The hope for this event is to educate people on common stereotypes in hopes that those stereotypes can be avoided.
Every Latino has a different story and a different culture. Robert Rodriguez will be leading the discussion and stimulating conversation on cultural differences. There will be beef and vegetarian empanadas with a Puerto Rican bread pudding dessert for students. The event is welcome to all students.
