LLAS minor brings awareness to Latinx issues
As UHCL continues to grow and expand, so does its variety of degrees and programs, one of which is the Latinx and Latin American Studies Program (LLAS), a multidisciplinary minor in the College of Human Sciences and Humanities.
The program’s mission statement describes the minor as being one that “gives students the robust knowledge and understanding of how indigenous culture, migration, borderlands, history, culture, artistic production, and colonialism have shaped and influenced Latinx and Latin American identities.”
“Our courses provide students the space and tools to think critically about modern-day issues across the Americas,” the mission statement says. “The program benefits anyone interested in working within education, law, healthcare, business and any profession that serves Latinx populations. Our faculty center courses and coursework around intellectual rigor, transformational discourse, and curricula that are inclusive and interested in equity and a diversity of voices.”
The program also lists some of its values as being coalition building, community engagement, diverse representation in leadership, diversity of ethnicity, nationality, race, gender, equity and intellectual rigor.
Classes that count toward the minor include beginning and intermediate Spanish courses, Introduction to Latin American History and Geography of Latin America.
“This course of study proves quite useful no matter a student’s major,” said Christina Cedillo, assistant professor of writing, who teaches in LLAS. “Many think it is better suited to someone in the humanities or social sciences, but STEM and education students can gain much in terms of cultural awareness, which is necessary for connecting with the communities they will serve. Latinxs are the fasted growing demographic in the nation, so we all have to learn how to connect.”
Cedillo teaches the writing course Latinx Rhetorics and got involved with LLAS to ensure the program was one that performed its purpose well.
“When I started at UHCL, I knew I had a lot to say about the university being a [Hispanic-Serving Institution],” Cedillo said. “I came here from a school in Oklahoma that was a Native-Serving Institution, where the needs of Native students were severely neglected. As a member of the Latinx community, I wanted to be sure that a program about Latinx at a school the serves the Latinx community lived up to its promise. Currently, I am teaching a course on Latinx Rhetorics through the writing program, the first I believe- hopefully, not the last.”
The program’s director, Desdemona Rios, associate professor of social psychology, became the director shortly after being asked to join by the program’s founder Daniel Haworth, associate professor of history. Rios said part of her reason for joining was because of her experience as a “first-generation Chicana” who could bring such a perspective to students to help them learn more about Latinx issues.
“UHCL is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and it is really important we develop programs that represent the student body,” said Rios.
Rios said the minor is a start to UHCL living up to its label as an HSI. She expressed how the program is certainly growing thanks to the involvement of the UHCL community.
“Faculty and students are really organically developing the program and a lot of it is due to our energy and dedication,” Rios said. “We are hoping the program only grows in support.”
Rios noted that it is not just her and the program’s responsibility to spread awareness and knowledge of Latinx issues but also the university’s as a whole by learning and teaching the history of Latinx culture and implementing new policies and programs. Rios said she feels the program and university “are definitely heading in the right direction.”
The LLAS program, as those involved have noted, has been driven and supported by its students as much as its faculty. This includes Erica Solis, social work major, who has acted as the program’s student representative for two years, a title she said she carries with much “respect and pride.”
“I am the voice of the Latinx/Hispanic student population to the LLAS committee board and also I carry the board’s visions and ideas back out to students,” Solis said. “I can offer/lend my student perspective as a Latina/Chicana to the board and bounce ideas, strategies, marketing and communication techniques and applications that they might not have considered.”
Solis said what made her get involved with LLAS was her passion for “organizing, being a voice for the voiceless, and loving my ethnic community.”
“I say this all the time, but when I first transferred to UHCL in 2016 I felt completely lost,” Solis said. “I never could quite put my finger on what was missing, and I felt like I was constantly swimming against the current.”
Solis was enrolled in Rios’ social psychology class and, as Solis recalled, this was the first time in her life she had a Latina/Chicana professor, which she described as being “huge” for her. She said she slowly started to see how systems work, how racism could be implicit, how institutions can hold bias and how students could feel the repercussions of that.
“I basically wanted to help change ‘systems’ for the next group coming in behind me any way that I could and for the betterment for all,” Solis said. “When I was asked if I would accept the position, that invitation was major for me as well. I was petrified and almost said no. Then I realized I had to do it and let my passion fuel my actions. This is what college is all about, right? So, I rolled up my sleeves and dove in.”
Solis said she thinks students should strongly consider minoring in LLAS because the Latinx/Hispanic community is “thriving and growing.” She pointed to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 report which found Latinx/Hispanic residents are projected to become Texas’ largest population in the state by 2022.
“[Joining LLAS] means the difference of being an amazing professional or a mediocre one,” Solis said. “This minor program helps students develop skills that are applicable to lots of different careers working with the Latinx/Hispanic population. Name me one profession that doesn’t have to work closely with the Latinx/Hispanic community? There’s not one.”
Solis stressed the importance of having various skills when working and living among the Latinx community.
“It is crucial for individuals to have competency skills when working, networking, helping and living among the Latinx community,” Solis said. “So skills like understanding historical, social, cultural and political factors relating to Latinx communities the understanding of cross-cultural issues and the ability to recognize and be an ally to such communities is imperative.”
Solis said her role as the student representative has impacted her.
“Being a student representative for LLAS has helped my college experience because I am being mentored by some pretty amazing Latinx women on this campus, and I’m not saying that lightly,” Solis said. “These women are power-houses that work tirelessly, around the clock for a program that they are passionate about. I have the privilege of being about to see behind the scenes….the good, the bad and the ugly. Meaning, I see when their voices/accomplishments get left out of conversations or LLAS doesn’t receive the support it deserves. However, I also see the out-pour of love they receive from colleagues, from students and from outside stakeholders who share their passion and believe in their push. All of this has prepared me for my career and path in social work….all of it, and I am deeply grateful.”
The group has had, and will have, multiple events planned to honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, all based around a theme- a tradition Rios said the program has long wished to start. This year’s theme is “Using Art for Social Justice,”and feature artists to speak on Latinx and Hispanic issues.
Rios said the topic of using art for social justice was chosen because of how “art speaks to everyone” and is “something that invites us all in.”
“I would love to see all of the UHCL community come and learn,” Rios said. “Not just those who are Hispanic and Latinx but also those who aren’t to learn about a group different from themselves.”
For more Hispanic Heritage Month coverage, check out:
INFOGRAPHIC: The difference between Hispanic and Latinx
The terms “Hispanic” and “Latinx” are pan-ethnic and often used interchangeably. They overlap in some ways but actually mean two different things.
INFOGRAPHIC: Hispanic population on track to be majority in Texas by 2022
At the current growth rate, the Hispanic population is on track to become the largest ethnic group in Texas by 2022. Houston now holds the third largest Hispanic population in the country.
LISTA talks name change and Hispanic Heritage Month
The Latinx and Latin American Studies program (LLAS) is hosting a series of events co-sponsored by various University of Houston-Clear Lake offices and student organizations. The HHM kickoff event was originally scheduled for Sept. 18 but was canceled because of Tropical Storm Imelda.
Miguel A. Gonzalez becomes first Hispanic dean in UHCL’s 45 year history
New University of Houston–Clear Lake (UHCL) College of Science and Engineering (CSE) Dean, Miguel A. Gonzalez, has been a part of the University of Houston System since the beginning of his career and considers the move to UHCL a homecoming. Gonzalez earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in industrial engineering from the University of Houston (UH).
