On Tuesday, October 15, ERHS celebrated its annual Fiesta Latina event in the media center to commemorate the end of Hispanic Heritage month, hosted by the English Honors Society and Spanish Honors Society. The room was filled with a contagious energy throughout the event — the vibrant Latin music making its way through the ears of each individual and the chatter and laughter of students bringing the space to life in a harmonious manner. The celebration was full of activities; starting with a display of Latino literature on display for students to view, followed by student-led poetry recitations and discussions. Rounds of a Latin themed bingo made for fun before it closed with a Kahoot to test the knowledge of Latino culture while students indulged in a variety of food such as tamales, churros, Mexican rice, and horchata.
Alessia Castro Garcia and Jason Gallardo are both seniors, Gallardo’s family from Honduras and Castro Garcia’s family from El Salvador and Honduras. For them, events like this fill them with excitement for the Hispanic community at Roosevelt. Castro believes that “the Hispanic community at Roosevelt is very welcoming and diverse”, Gallardo adding that it’s “open but also really tight knit” mentioning that “we all know each other and feel comfortable around each other”. To be recognized as a community “means a lot” to Castro because the community is “appreciated and we celebrate each other” through these gatherings. Gallardo resonates, indicating that it’s valuable because for him “middle school and elementary school were predominantly Hispanic schools, so coming to Roosevelt was a little weird, like ‘oh, wow, there’s only a couple of us’ so it’s nice that we have events like this.” With festivities like Fiesta Latina, Castro Garcia and Gallardo have also celebrated Hispanic Heritage month by “spending time with each other and listening to music” and going to “a bunch of festivals they always have on random streets and going to two of those a week just to be surrounded by it. Just to appreciate the food and the people.”
By the end of Fiesta Latina, students like Castro Garcia and Gallardo felt the impact of celebrating their culture together. “I find every single moment meaningful because we’re spending time with each other” Castro shared, reflecting on the sense of community. Gallardo found something new to appreciate. “My favorite moment is enjoying the food because that’s a new experience”, he exclaimed.
These cultural celebrations unite people, giving them an opportunity to enjoy and learn from the diverse cultures that make up the Roosevelt community.
