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Annual Meeting

The group, which formed in 2023, assembled for its annual meeting in September. Facilitated by John Vegas ’93, the inaugural president, the gathering offered alumni a chance to plan their goals for the coming year.

One of their endeavors will be launching a new alumni mentorship program for students. “The flagship program upholds the ABLA mission to establish a supportive and nurturing environment for Latinx students at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ College that will build bridges across generations,” said Joycelyn Blizzard, director of multicultural alumni engagement.

ABLA is now accepting applications for Latinx-identifying who wish to support Latinx-identifying . Read more about the program 

Virtual Community Discussion

As part of its Hispanic Heritage Month event series, ABLA members participated in a candid conversation on imposter syndrome led by Jimena Escudero ’13, ABLA vice president. The event, “Unmasking Imposter Syndrome To Cultivate Joy,” included a dialogue about personal heroes (the names of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ professors, parents, and others came up).

During the discussion, Jason Guzman Bayron ’11 shared the importance of emphasizing Puerto Rican pride at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ and with his young family. Additionally, Beto Vargas ’14 spoke about how his Latinx identity provided him with a foundation that helped him thrive in his doctoral program. 

Virtual Cooking Demonstration

ABLA members also celebrated their culinary heritage with a virtual cooking demonstration featuring Karla Olivares ’17, a passionate food lover who is currently pursuing her culinary degree at St. Phillip's College in San Antonio, Texas. Olivares dreams of one day opening a catering company alongside her talented chef mother.

The presentation featured a delightful menu of Tex-Mex enchiladas, Mexican rice, nopal salsa, and crispy tortilla chips. Alumni joined in the cooking, sharing conversations about their experiences (or lack thereof) with the dishes. Olivares also spoke about her own culinary journey and aspirations.

To continue the celebration, alumni have been invited to contribute their favorite Latinx recipes to be compiled and shared with the community in December. If you have one you'd like to add, please provide  by November 30! 

NYC Reception

On a crisp October evening, a small group of ABLA alumni converged in the heart of New York City, in the Financial District, to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month and the rich cultural heritage and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities.

Led by Ariele Gonzalez ’08, chair of the ABLA celebrations committee, the event welcomed alumni from diverse backgrounds. For many, it was their first time meeting in person, having previously interacted only on virtual platforms.

In her remarks, Gonzalez highlighted the significance of the month, emphasizing the importance of embracing diversity, fostering inclusivity, and recognizing the invaluable contributions of Hispanic and Latino individuals to society.

“The inaugural Hispanic Heritage Month reception served as a testament to the strength of the ABLA network and the unwavering commitment of its alumni to embrace and celebrate Hispanic heritage,” Blizzard said. “It was an evening filled with warmth, camaraderie, and a renewed sense of pride in their shared identity.”