El Centro enables Latinx students to open their minds, ‘explore new ideas’
We’re celebrating Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Month at Oregon State University from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. This is a time when the larger university community honors the cultures and contributions of Latinx and Hispanic Americans to the history, society and achievements of the United States.
This important event helps define Oregon State’s rich cultural identity. And while the official heritage celebration spans one month, the work of highlighting and supporting the university’s Latinx, Chicanx and Hispanic community is something OSU’s Centro Cultural César Chávez does day in and day out.
For students who learn on campus or online through Oregon State Ecampus, El Centro, as it is commonly known, lifts up students in pursuit of their academic and career goals while creating a welcoming and inclusive space for others.
Follow the Centro Cultural César Chávez on social
Engage with Oregon State students and staff in the Latinx and Chicanx community, and find details on events produced by El Centro.
Staff and student representatives recently shared their insights on the value El Centro brings to Oregon State all 12 months of the year.
The best thing about the Centro Cultural César Chávez in 20 words or fewer
“El Centro rests within a family of broader communities and cultures who encourage love, acceptance and support for one another,” said Rose Rodarte, a student leadership liaison and computer science major.
(And that’s exactly 20 words for those of you keeping score at home.)
The immense impact El Centro has on the student experience
Rodarte has engaged with El Centro in two roles: first, solely as a community member, and now in a student leadership role.
“I’ve gotten the chance to create new relationships and connect with others both physically and virtually,” she said. “It’s enabled me to open my mind and explore new ideas that contribute to OSU’s larger Latinx community.”
The role El Centro plays in broadly meeting students’ needs
Staff members say there is a renewed focus on supporting students in their mental health and well-being — efforts that coincide with building a strong sense of community and belonging for all Latinx, Chicanx and Hispanic people at Oregon State.
The educational outreach mission lives on
El Centro’s mission, in part, is to inform the broader Oregon State community about issues that are central to Chicanx and Latinx people. Staff leadership said it’s always been important to inform others about the triumphs and struggles the Latinx and Chicanx community has faced as a way to honor their history as a people and make a way forward for a brighter, better future as well.
