As a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution, and in honor of Latinx Heritage Month, John Jay College is recognizing the vital contributions Latinx people have made to our country and our society through a series of events, web articles, and special features on our YouTube page. In our “Latinx Celebration” article series, we’re connecting with our Latinx students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and learning more about their experiences, identities, traditions, and hopes for the future.

When Stefany Quiroz ’24, a Honduran-American with a double major in Political Science and Latin American and Latinx Studies (LLS), was looking at colleges to attend, it was John Jay’s role as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) that really stood out to her. “I wanted to go to a college where I could be surrounded by people who have similar struggles and lived experiences to my own. As I learned more about John Jay and its Latinx student body, I knew it was a place that would be a safe space and second home for me,” says Quiroz, elaborating on why attending an HSI was so important to her. “I went to Stuyvesant High School which was predominantly white, and there were days where I felt singled out because I was the only Latinx student in the room. Being at John Jay has provided me with such a wonderful learning experience, both inside and outside the classroom,” she says. “I’m learning so much about Latin American history, the variety of Latinx cultures and traditions, and the different kinds of Spanish in each country. Being able to share our stories and to feel supported is priceless to me.” We sat down with Quiroz to learn more about her proud Latinx heritage.

Tell us a little bit about your upbringing. Where did you grow up and what are some of your fondest memories growing up there?
I grew up in the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Bensonhurst and Sunset Park, on a mostly Latinx block, so I grew up surrounded by Latinos. I loved the areas I grew up in because it was full of all these different cultures, and there was always something good to eat. Looking back, it was almost like I lived in a bubble because when I got to high school, I was one of the very few Latinx students in the school. I was sitting in classrooms with people who didn’t know where my country of Honduras was on the map—I even had a classmate ask me if Honduras was a city in Mexico. It was a real cultural shock.

How do you embrace your Latinx heritage during Latinx Heritage Month and throughout the year?
For me, celebrating Latinx Heritage Month goes beyond the month. Being Latina is my whole identity. It’s who I am, so I celebrate my identity year-round. I love reading Latinx authors and supporting their work. I just finished The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, which was so good. It reminded me of my childhood growing up. I also do my best to celebrate and uplift the Latinx community at home and with my work. If I’m working with community organizers, I’ll help with fundraising, outreach, and getting the word out on the important issues in our community. When I’m at home with family, I make home-cooked meals that pay homage to our culture. I speak Spanish and I try to instill our values and teach my siblings about our roots. It’s important for me to encourage my siblings to speak Spanish and to introduce a sense of pride for our culture.

In your John Jay courses, what have you learned about Latinx culture or history that impressed you, surprised you, or made you think deeper?
I took a Human Rights in Latin America course with Professor José Luis Morín that changed my life. It’s the reason I made LLS one of my majors. The history of Latin America is so often overlooked, ignored, or completely missing from the school curriculum. It wasn’t until I got to John Jay that I learned about this erased Latinx history. To be able to learn about the role the U.S. played in Latin America, and how damaging and traumatic some of those interventions or interactions were, was really an eye-opening experience. It made me want to dig deeper and learn more about our history. It also made me see how the seeds of discrimination were planted in Latin America and how as a community we have a long way to go to take down xenophobia, racism, colorism, transphobia, and homophobia in our communities.

What are your biggest hopes for the Latinx community?
I want to see more Latinx people being administrators, teachers, doctors, lawyers, researchers, and leaders of our local communities and our higher education institutions. For the underrepresented Latinx community to be better served and uplifted, we need Latinx people in these leadership positions because they understand where the community is coming from and what the struggles are.

There’s no denying that there are inequities built into our systems, from education to healthcare, from legal to financial, and that must change. I believe that if anyone’s going to right the wrongs in our systems and uplift our Latinx community, it’s us. Our generation can clearly see the issues for what they are, and we’re determined to change things. We’re putting in the work, organizing, deconstructing old myths, and standing up for our community.

Finish this sentence: I’m proud to be Latinx because…
I’m proud to be Latinx because we are such an amazing mixed pool of cultures and traditions. I’m proud to live, breathe, and carry those rich roots with me everywhere I go.