Low-riders and dancers filled Parking Lot D on Tuesday, September 16th, as Sonoma State kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month with “La Bienvenida”. Members of Noma Nation turned Lot D into a cultural hub and celebrated Hispanic and Latino communities through an energetic evening filled with culture, music, and food.
This event was organized by Sonoma State’s Strategic Programs team, led by senior coordinator Bianca Delgado-Casillas. “La Bienvenida” was much more than just a celebration; it’s a reflection of Sonoma State’s dedication to inclusivity. The university is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), in which 51% of the total student population identifies as Hispanic.
“This is our Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff event,” said HT Townes, a fourth-year Hutchins Liberal Studies major. “To me, it means a lot. I’m Puerto Rican, so I absolutely love that I get to be here with my community. It’s like little pieces of home on the Sonoma State campus.”
For students whose culture plays a big role in their lives, La Bienvenida provided them with a chance to reunify with their heritage. Abraham Rico, a major in Business Management, described how this event held both emotional and cultural significance.
“I think the importance of having this kind of event is to bring students back to their roots,” said Rico. “It brings students like me who come from a Hispanic background back to our values, traditions, and beliefs.”
Although this event was a celebration, it also had an educational aspect. Delgado-Casillas explained how La Bienvenida is meant to bring brighter spirits to campus while also emphasizing cultural education.
“We typically have lowriders like a car show, and then we have dancing and live music,” said Delgado-Casillas. “I think [La Bienvenida] shows people that we care about their identity and we see them. We want to make them feel a little bit more at home…to truly feel belonging.”
This event reminds Delgado-Casillas of her home in Southern California and the frequent cultural gatherings. “This is something that was always happening in my backyard,” she shared. “Seeing it here at Sonoma means a lot. Seeing students who have maybe never been to something like this before, seeing them smile, having a good time, it really makes my heart happy.”
Stepping away from your normal routine can be challenging, but Sonoma State offers opportunities to bring diverse cultures together on campus. La Bienvenida offers a safe space for individuals to celebrate and connect with their culture, and most importantly, do it together!
