The sounds of old school salsa and bolero filled the air of John Jay College’s Moot Court on May 14, as students, family, and faculty gathered to celebrate the Latin American and Latina/o Studies Department’s (LLS) end of the year event. The event honored the Class of 2019 students, who graduated with a major or minor from the department. “This is a celebration of our graduates, and it’s also a celebration of the important work that our department does to promote student success,” said José Luis Morín, Professor and Chairperson of the Latin American and Latina/o Studies (LLS) Department.

Speaking of the importance of having a dedicated faculty, Morín said, “LLS faculty are more than just professors. They’re mentors, they’re student advocates, and they’re role models. And role models are really important, because you can’t be what you can’t see.” For students at John Jay, where 51 percent of the student body identifies as Latinx, having a professor that looks like them, serves as inspiration. “Faculty of color are known, and the research shows this, for creating an effort to promote student success and to be there for students of color,” said Morín.

Reiterating his point, Professor Morín invited several students to the stage to say a few words about their experiences with faculty-led programs that include: the ¡Adelante! Latinx Leadership Program, Unaccompanied Latin American Minor Project (U-LAMP), the Ronald H. Brown Law School Prep Program, and the Rossana Rosado Fellowship. All the programs provide students with opportunities and experiences to help them achieve their dreams.

Students’ Experience
Graduating with an LLS Minor, Laura Alvarado ’19, spoke of her time with ¡Adelante! and how the program provided her with support and a sense of community within the College. “¡Adelante! was the help I needed to transition into college. This program became a safety net because it taught me that having trouble was normal. And, that there should never be a question about if I can do something I want to do. ¡Adelante! opened the doors for many opportunities that I would have never imagined would be possible as an undocumented, first-generation college student,” said Alvarado. “It gave me the tools I needed to know how to apply and get scholarships and fellowships, and taught me how to become a public speaker. The ¡Adelante! Program gave me a place where I belonged.”

When Eduardo Garcia ’19, an LLS major, spoke, he expressed how motivated he felt to advocate for others after his experience with U-LAMP, a program led by Assistant Professor Isabel Martinez. U-LAMP helps unaccompanied minors during their deportation proceedings. “The U-LAMP experience lit a fire in me. My experience in this program motivated me to continue working with and advocating for immigrants,” said Garcia. “U-LAMP showed me how the world is interconnected and how it’s about the rights of everyone, not just one group of people.”    

Furthering the theme of a connected world, the event also explored the role the Study Abroad Program, led by Professor Brian Montes, has in enhancing the undergraduate experience. Recounting her study abroad trip to Quintana Roo, Mexico, Stephanie Revilla ’19, an LLS minor, explained that this trip offered her the opportunity to visit her native country for the first time. It immersed her in the history, language and culture of the Mayan people.

Claudia Flores-Montesinos ’19, a student in the Ronald H. Brown Program, attributes her participation in the law school prep program with paving a path towards a greater, brighter future. “This program has opened doors for me that I could never have dreamed of as a daughter of immigrants. With the program’s constant support, I was accepted to various law schools with scholarships. I’ll be the first in my family to pursue a Juris Doctorate degree,” said Flores-Montesinos. Similarly, Stephanie Calderon Vasquez ’19, an LLS minor, credits her time as a Rossana Rosado Fellow for giving her a clearer sense of direction about her future and the role she would like to play to help her community. 

Special Recognition
After the students spoke, Professor Morín took the stage once again, this time to acknowledge Angela Fernandez, Acting Commissioner of New York State’s Division of Human Rights, with the Distinguished Humanitarian Award. “A few years ago, we started awarding somebody really special to our department with the Distinguished Humanitarian Award. And this year, we’ve chosen Angela Fernandez,” said Professor Morín. “She’s been an advocate of immigrant rights for many years. She codeveloped a universal court-appointed representation program for detained immigrants, the first of its kind in the nation. And, she spearheaded the first women’s studies program at Rikers Island. Here at John Jay, she has served as a mentor and supervisor for a number of our Rosado Fellows and LLS students over the years.”

Accepting the award, Fernandez connected with the students by talking about her own journey of uncertainty after graduation, one that she knew every student in the room was feeling. “When I was your age, I was a bundle of nerves and insecurity every single day wondering what I was going to do with my life. And, miraculously I made it into law school. But every single day of law school, I felt like I didn’t belong,” she said. “I was really convinced that I was going to get kicked out of school, not because of my grades, but because I felt nervous the whole time. And, I felt the same way throughout my twenties.”

But after a while, Fernandez found her footing. She was running the Northern Coalition for Immigrant Rights when she received a call from the Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, asking her if she would be interested in being the Acting Commissioner of New York State’s Division of Human Rights. Now in the role, Fernandez understands the value of this opportunity. “It isn’t until you get on the inside where you see the potential, the power, and the authority to do so much good from this position. The Division of Human Rights for New York State has the power to investigate, prosecute, and award monetary damages to individuals who have been discriminated against by companies, individuals, schools, and hospitals,” she said. Fernandez realized that it takes someone like her, who has experience working with individuals in underserved communities, to bring more awareness to the agency. “It’s truly been an honor to take everything that I’ve learned at the grassroots level and mix it in with government. I want to be able to work with all of you in making sure we get the word out about how powerful this agency is,” said Fernandez. “And that’s why we need people who are directly impacted in these positions of power, so that government actually works for us.” Offering one last piece of advice, Fernandez encouraged students not to let feelings of insecurity get in their way, because as she says, “It does get better.”

Sponsoring Success
Before presenting the seniors with a pin, stole, and certificate, Professor Morín called President Karol V. Mason to the stage. As she approached the mic, she took a step back, taking in the moment. “Many of the students in this room are the first students I met as President of John Jay College. Your stories inspire me and your successes mean so much to me. I’m sad to see you all go, because I’ve gotten so attached to you,” said Mason. “And so, I want to say that I will continue my promise to make sure John Jay does whatever we can, even after you graduate, to ensure that you continue to be successful. Please keep being those fierce advocates for your future and the future of the students coming behind you, because we hear you and we see you.”

We spoke with several students at the event to learn about their experience being part of the Latin American and Latina/o Studies department.

Claudia Flores-Montesinos ’19
Major: Law & Society and English
Hometown: Queens, NY

The thing I’ve enjoyed most about being in the LLS department is the amount of support it provides its students. I’m a Latina and I have never experienced this amount of support anywhere else. What the LLS department is doing is taking their students and equipping us with the knowledge and confidence we need to succeed. I’ll forever be thankful to this department. 
 

Coral Perez ’19
Major: Criminal Justice
Hometown: Bronx, NY 

My confidence was built here at John Jay thanks to the supportive mentors, professors and faculty. The professors in the LLS department never gave up on me. Professor Brian Montes pushed me to challenge myself and step up my game. That led to improvement in my writing skills. In the future, I hope to become a lawyer, but right now I’m prepping for the LSAT. 

Dayanara Garcia ’19
Major: Latin American and Latina/o Studies, Humanities & Justice
Certificate: Dispute Resolution 
Hometown: Queens, NY

My experience in the LLS department always reminds me of this quote, “The rarest flowers grow in adversity.” I think that’s a quote that represents many of the students in the department because of the different struggles each student faces. The LLS department knows how to give that support to students for them to blossom.
 

Eduardo E. Garcia ’19
Major: Latin American and Latina/o Studies
Hometown: Bronx, NY

One of my favorite moments in the LLS department was taking part in the Study Abroad program to Cuba. Being in Cuba at such an important time—we went in 2015 when the U.S. was considering reopening the embassy—was so informative. I’m very grateful for that. We have professors here in this department with such great experiences and diverse backgrounds, both in nationality and in the work they’ve done. Having a faculty like that teach us brings the educational experience to a whole different level. I also just love the pure history that we learn in these Latino studies courses, because it’s the history I feel we should have been taught in school. But I’m grateful that I took on this major and was able to learn more about the Latinx culture.