WJ students are preparing for the annual celebration of Hispanic and Latin culture with an assembly hosted by the Hispanic Student Union. The assembly will be held Nov. 21, in the auditorium.
The Hispanic assembly is a key part of the Walter Johnson community, as it’s been a regular occurrence for years, with the end goal of bringing the community together and opening the students up to new experiences.
The assembly holds a special place in the hearts of the performers, as well as the viewers of the event. For some, this year has been more impactful due to current events and the current political climate regarding immigration.
The students are trying to be the young voices that speak out and change the treatment towards the Hispanic community and other minority groups.
¨We’re trying to showcase how Hispanic culture is also engraved into American culture and it’s very present, and how people need to be more aware of the role that it plays in their daily lives,” junior and union treasurer Ariana Yepes said. “And how, although they may not see it, there are many people around them, especially immigrants, who are affected.”
The upcoming assembly will not only carry more significance than in years past, but it will also stand out with new elements added compared to previous assemblies. Now there will be a bigger focus on misconceptions regarding Hispanic culture, and the showcase will be open to more participants of all the different cultures to join.
¨Our purpose for this assembly is to literally show our culture because some years ago we talked about it, but we didn’t really show the diversity of our culture,” senior and union vice president Maryapola Mollehas said. “I really think people can learn, and people can realize that we are like a big community, and that they can learn about our culture.¨
The Hispanic assembly will be a very colorful, expressive and engaging event. While the planning may be pretty long and difficult, the hard work of all the members—no matter the role—will make for a very influential moment in the WJ community.
