In honor of Latinx Heritage Month, John Jay College—a Hispanic-Serving Institution—is proudly celebrating the many ways in which Latinx people have enriched our country. As part of our “Latinx Celebration” series, we sat down with a talented group of ¡Adelante! students to learn more about their Latinx identity, what this celebration means to them, who in the Latinx community inspires them, and why they are hopeful for the future of Latinx communities.

As a proud Latina, Michelle Cevallos ’24, a Criminal Justice major from Brooklyn, New York, knows the importance of voting this Election Day. That’s why she created a voting plan to ensure she can cast her vote. “This is my first time voting, so I’m really excited to go out to the polling site and vote,” says Cevallos. “I’m going to wear a mask, remain socially distanced, and take all the protective and safety precautions I can to make sure I can cast my ballot.” For Cevallos, who’s of Ecuadorian descent, voting is a way to make her voice—and the voice of the Latinx community—heard. She’s hoping to inspire other Latinx people to exercise their right vote. “I want to emphasize how important it is for the Latino community, and all people living in minority communities, to register and vote in the election this November. We need to understand that we have the power to come together and use our voices to vote for elected officials who understand and represent our communities. This is our right and I fully intend to make sure I am playing my part.”

Why is it important to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month?
It’s important to honor and recognize the hard work of all Latinx leaders throughout the world, from both the past and the present. I feel like a lot of Latinx people, our voices, and the work Latinx communities do get “shut down” or are seen as inferior. We need to recognize the Latinx leaders within our community, appreciate the path they paved for us, and continue their legacy by doing the work and using our voices.   

What movement from within the Latinx community are you most proud of?
A moment that really moved me was seeing how the Latino community came together in support of Vanessa Guillen and her family. I remember watching Primer Impacto, a news show on Univision, and there were so many women who experienced the same kind of abuse and harassment Vanessa went through. They were afraid to speak up because they didn’t want anyone going after their parents, families, or loved ones. Many of them expressed that they wished they had spoken up sooner. Seeing that, I hope it encourages women in the military, especially women of color, to speak up.

What does it mean to you to go to a Hispanic-Serving Institution? How does going to a Hispanic-Serving Institution make you feel?
It was really a big deal for me. I went to a predominantly white school and it was definitely challenging to fit in being a woman of color. No one looked like me and it was really difficult to relate to anyone else. I didn’t feel welcomed or like I was part of the student body. So, coming to a Hispanic-Serving Institution like John Jay felt like I was coming home to family. I was welcomed by a community that looks like me. The diversity at John Jay is how I knew the College was the right place for me. I knew that academically it would help me pursue my career, but at John Jay, it’s also a community that celebrates me and my culture, and has taught me the importance of expressing my civic duty like voting. I belong here and I know that the next four years is going to be a great ride.

What have you learned about Latinx culture or history that surprised you?
I’ve learned that, unfortunately, racism exists within our Latinx community. There are so many instances where people from the same community express some type of racism or make fun of other Latino people. I don’t think we as a whole realize that this can only destroys us and take away the unity and power that we have as Latinx people. If we allow this to happen within our own community, then we are giving everyone outside of the Latinx community a free pass to discriminate against us. All Latinx communities are unique and the people come in many different shapes and colors. We need to embrace this and learn to work together because the actions we take within our own Latinx community can impact Latinx communities as a whole.

How do you personally embrace your Latinx culture?
I proudly carry my country’s flag. I have a little one in my room that means a lot to me. And, each year my family and I go to the Ecuadorian parade in Queens. We wear our jerseys, paint our faces and wave our flag. The streets are closed, there’s music, confetti, and everyone dances. It’s a beautiful day filled with celebrating our culture.

If you could meet any Latinx thought leader, visionary artist, educator, politician, cultural icon, or any person in history, who would it be and why?
I would definitely want to meet the lead singer of Calle 13, René Pérez Joglar, who is now known as Residente.. He’s definitely a unique artist who talks about not only his Puerto Rican roots and culture, but he also celebrates all the places in Latin America. He has a song called Latinoamérica and it's just a deep song about the history and struggle of people in Latin America—the foundation of these nations was built by our hard work. He’s a trailblazer. I remember watching him at the Grammys, watching him perform on the main stage with the orchestra behind him. It was so beautiful and filled with so much love and energy.

Finish this sentence: I’m proud of my Latinx heritage because…
I’m proud of my Latinx heritage because I’m able to embrace the rich and high-spirited Ecuadorian traditions my family and I inherited from our ancestors. I’m proud to be Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian) and represent my people and the rest of the Latinx community.