Cerritos College students celebrated Hispanic Heritage month and showcased their resilience at the annual Feria Latina on Oct. 1, transforming concerns on ICE raids and the current political climate into vibrant displays of pride and solidarity.
“Our mission is to support anybody on campus that is impacted by our immigration system. That includes undocumented students,” Iveth Romo Diaz who works for the UndocuFalcon Scholars Program said, “We do a lot of cross collaborations on campus to ensure we approach students in a holistic manner.”
La Feria Latina drew attendees who filled Falcon’s Square with music by Luis Conte & Super Bien and food provided by Taco Nazo.
The celebration comes as immigrant communities across the region face heightened anxiety over increased immigration enforcement.
Yet they said that La Feria Latina served as a reminder that cultural pride remains stronger than fear, with students using the event to reclaim their space and celebrate their identities openly.
“Speak up for your community, represent yourself. Don’t fall into the idea of not belonging. They want you to fall into that idea, so, infiltrate these spaces. They weren’t made for us. So, it’s about time that we’re in these spaces,” Caroline Romero, professor of Chicano studies at Cerritos College, stated.
Antonio “Nio” Lavermon, the college’s LGTBQ+ Program Facilitator and Liaison, said, “Our program is primarily designed to meet every single student where they’re at.”
Lavermon added, “Respected with where they’re at in their journey and to give them the tools that will allow them to be actualized and to feel supported in and out of the classroom.”
Student clubs displayed their cultura and provided a wide variety of resources ranging from information for LGBTQ+, undocumented and Chicano students.
For Cerritos students Chicano studies offers a deeper level of meaning and understanding into identity.
Romero provided clarification by saying, “The relationship that we have to identity here in the United States that has to do with immigration, belonging, legislation, citizenship. All these different things make up who we are.”
Informing us that the program tries to create culturally cognizant and critical classes that will set students up no matter what type of major or business they are looking to get into.
“Especially if you want to give back to our communities, this is what these classes are for. To set us up, to have that history, that knowledge that are going to better assist our communities,” Romero added.
As the Feria Latina,came to a close the spirit of community and resilience shine brightly among the attendees. This celebration served as a powerful reminder that in the face of adversity, unity and pride can prevail.
By embracing their identities and advocating for their rights, these students are not just reclaiming their space they are reinforcing the belief that together, they can overcome any challenge.
