Hispanic Culture Club’s Latin Fest Brings a Fresh Look into Latin Culture
by Sydney Stevenson '19
This article appears courtesy of The Peabody Press.
This article appears courtesy of The Peabody Press.
Every year during Hispanic Heritage Month, the Hispanic Culture Club and other members of the USN community host a schoolwide event called Latin Fest.
Latin Fest is this evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Sperling Cafeteria. Co-leaders of the Hispanic Culture Club, junior Manuel Guevara, sophomore Victoria Christianson, and junior Clayton Jelsma worked hard on leading the organization for the festival. It is a student-run and student-organized event, with help from other USN community members having been invested in celebrating Hispanic culture.
Spanish teacher Heather McRae works alongside students in putting on the Latin Fest. She explained that the purpose of the Latin Fest is to celebrate and bring people together.
“Latin Fest is a celebration we have every year to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins September 15th and lasts until October 15th,” said McRae. “It is a chance for all USN students--kindergarten through twelfth grade--to come together and share food, music, dance, just to celebrate all the contributions of Latin culture.”
McRae, who has attended the Latin Fest for the past five years, explained some of her favorite activities at the festival, as well as some things people can do there.
“Each year is a little bit different. For example, last year we had visiting dancers, face painting, music, dancing, and authentic food. In the past, we've also had piñatas for the smaller children. In short, there’s always something new to do,” McRae said.
Hispanic Culture Club co-leader Clayton Jelsma described what his club hopes the community will take away from the festival.
“We hope it's just a time to relax and enjoy another culture, which a lot of times we don't have exposure to,” Jelsma said. “We just want to open up people’s viewpoints about different cultures around the world, and this event will help us do that.”
Camille Sutton, a French and Spanish teacher, went to Latin Fest last year, which was her first year at USN. She explained her takeaway from the experience and the importance of student-led activities.
“It's a chance to learn and have fun, which is great, and it makes me excited when students want to organize it, because it's just so much more special when the students do it,” Sutton said.
McRae emphasized the importance of the Latin Fest’s community aspect, and how it brings people together.
“It's a way for everyone to meet the exchange students from Guatemala who come each year, because they are usually here during the time we celebrate,” McRae said. “It's just a great opportunity to get together and enjoy everyone’s company.”
Junior Amara Payne went last year and explained that she took a better understanding and appreciation for Latin culture from her experience.
“I learned about some new food I didn't know about, and about new cultures, and I think it helped me to become a better member of the community,” Payne said. “It helped for me to be better-informed of their culture and the significance of those specific things that were at Latin Fest meaningful to that culture.”
Jelsma explained the ways that someone could get involved in the planning of Latin Fest.
“Hispanic Culture Club does the majority of the work, especially the three leaders, Manny, Victoria, and I. And so you could contact one of us, or you could come to the club meetings, which would be great, because we’re all about community building and inclusivity,” Jelsma said.
Jelsma also promulgated the Hispanic Culture Club, which is open to all high school students.
“It is a club where people can discuss issues that Hispanics and Latinos face, across our own community and across the country,” Jelsma said. “We address those issues, but it is also a time to celebrate different Hispanic cultures and their impact.”
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Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
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University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.