We had the chance to talk to René Juárez-Cuevas, a current Co-President of Club Latino at Parkland on what Hispanic Heritage Month means to him.
René Juárez-Cuevas is a second year at Parkland majoring in Business Administration. He currently serves in several positions at Parkland: Student Government Vice President, Honors Program President, Cobra Investment Society Co-President, Member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and Student Member of the Illinois Community College Board. Juárez-Cuevas also volunteers as a tutor at Garden Hills Academy with Parkland’s Homework Club, and volunteers as an English-to-Spanish translator for Spanish-speaking families for the Unit 4 School District.
Juárez-Cuevas’ involvement in Club Latino includes being Co-President alongside with Lisset Macedo. He and Macedo organize for Club Latino to frequently join in Hispanic heritage events hosted for the University of Illinois and in the local Champaign County community.
“My parents moved to the United States from Mexico over 20 years ago, giving me a Latino background and Hispanic heritage. Being raised in a Mexican household in a small rural town gave me a broad perspective of the diversity in the world because I saw the vast differences between the local culture and that of my family. These differences presented some adversity when growing up, but I believe that adversity aids in building character and the understanding of different perspectives.”
René Juárez-Cuevas
Juárez-Cuevas shares that since arriving to Parkland, Club Latino immediately presented a group of likeminded peers to relate to. “Growing up I was one of 5 Hispanic students in my school, and it was nice to join this group that shares my language and culture. Club Latino has become almost like a home because I have found a group of friends with whom I relate to right down to our roots.”
Hispanic Heritage Month goes from September 15 to October 15 annually. Members at Club Latino believe that the month presents a wonderful opportunity to express their cultures and ideas. It brings them together and allows them to share traditions and beliefs with their peers and their community. Club Latino has been celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by engaging in community events that celebrate the culture. They have also been working to spend time together outside of school.
For non-Latino students, Juárez-Cuevas invites you to learn more about the Hispanic culture by joining Club Latino in Room D203 Thursdays at Noon. Invite any friends you may have in the Hispanic community and ask them about their heritage and what it means to them.
Nikola Buis
Prospectus Reporter