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The La Casita Cultural Center is an irreplaceable hub for promoting civic engagement and cultural exchange within central New York’s Latine community. Open to all members of Syracuse University, this safe haven of preservation and celebration of Latine culture deserves more than just the one full-time staff member, more funding and at the very least, a trolley stop to make the center more accessible to students.

For being an SU program, it’s disappointing and concerning that La Casita is only promoted for the once-a-year exotification of the center’s services during Latine Heritage Month. The lack of care and attention put into the recognition of La Casita makes me assume there’s not a real commitment to fostering cultural resilience beyond a month of so-called “appreciation.”

I remember the goosebumps I felt as a freshman during my first time volunteering at La Casita — where diverse Latin-American accents welcomed me with open arms. After a culturally alienating first semester, I finally found a place that celebrated my identity, where I felt seen and celebrated. I didn’t understand the magnitude of cultural alienation, or the toll it would take on my sense of self. Finding community and belonging at La Casita is a favor that I can never repay.

La Casita also serves as a liaison between the Latine populations at SU, and the surrounding central New York areas, by providing a variety of community programs. These include educational programs designed for children, community-focused events for families and activities for adults, all presented in a multilingual format for people with varying language skills.

Cole Ross | Digital Design Director

The cultural immersion that welcomes you the moment you walk into La Casita offers a chance for student volunteers to engage and make a meaningful impact with Syracuse’s Latine community. La Casita enhances cultural competence and civic participation, which is critical for students to learn as they look toward future careers. Volunteering at La Casita is not just a charitable act — it’s an experience that broadens your understanding of the world and fosters community solidarity.

I didn’t visit La Casita until the second semester of my freshman year due to the lack of transportation to the SU-affiliated community engagement center. La Casita is located in the Westside neighborhood near campus, which should in theory increase community involvement. However, the lack of a designated trolley stop discourages students from visiting, especially students who don’t have access to vehicles but are still seeking civically-engaged cultural connections.

The closest stop to La Casita is the downtown Nancy Cantor Warehouse, which is a 10-minute walk through a busy and dangerous high-speed interstate highway. As a research assistant for La Casita last year, I can attest that transportation, or the lack thereof, was the reason behind inconsistent student engagement.

La Casita’s impact stretches beyond its four walls. It’s a beacon of community engagement. Its partnership with the Community Folk Art Center and contributions to national exhibits like the Smithsonian’s ‘Balcon Criollo: Beisbol‘ underscore its cultural influence. Additionally, the familial and nostalgic atmosphere in its adult programs plays a critical role in student co-curricular development.

But La Casita can’t continue thriving on the goodwill of volunteers and part-time staff alone. The administration must consciously choose where it places its financial priorities. If SU is serious about its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, then it must move beyond the performative recognition of La Casita.

The funding needs to be substantial, year-round and focused on creating sustainable support for La Casita. This means investing in full-time staff, ensuring accessible transportation for all students and actively promoting the center as a cornerstone of the university’s community engagement efforts.

SU must reconsider where its money is being allocated, because it matters to students. La Casita represents more than a research opportunity or volunteer opportunity — it’s a lifeline for BIPOC students like me who feel the absence of cultural connection every day on this campus.

When the administration chooses not to fully fund spaces like La Casita, they are choosing to deprive students of color of the community and cultural grounding that is essential to our well-being. This isn’t just about one center; it’s about ensuring that every student, regardless of their background, can feel seen, heard and supported.

We, as students, can and should do our part by volunteering and advocating for La Casita. But SU must do its part as well — by fully committing to the long-term support of La Casita and demonstrating that diversity isn’t just a marketing slogan, it’s a lived value.

Valeria Martinez Gutierrez is a junior majoring in Geography, Sociology and Environment, Sustainability and Policy. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at vmarti10@syr.edu.

Published on September 29, 2024 at 11:51 pm