By: Gabriella Bell

As the Highland Park 2024-25 school year commences after a long awaited break, several of our most beloved culture clubs are returning to our school. Some of which include the Black Student Union (BSU), the South-East Asian Association (SEAA), the Muslim Student Association (MSA), and many more!

Today we’ll be discussing Unión Latina (ULA) and some of their future plans, possible ideas, and what they’re most known for. These sneak peaks are being given to us directly from Kenia Saravia-Marques, our very own ULA president!!

Unión Latina has had several notable events such as our annual Fiesta Latina, the Día de los Muertos events, and our collaborations for Agriculture (Ag) Day! This year, President Saravia-Marques is teasing the possibilities of newly thought out ideas and events.

While ULA will continue the tradition of the Día de los Muertos event in November, she also expressed the desire to host a spirit week as a way to celebrate and express the individuality of different backgrounds for Hispanic Heritage Month beginning on September 15, 2024.

Another idea includes more frequent involvement with the school store this year; she also demonstrated an eagerness to collaborate with a handful of our other culture clubs such as BSU and SEAA for possible game nights, movie nights, or any group building activities between the members of their clubs.

While she has many of these amazing ideas, one of her most elaborate ideas mentions the possibility of Unión Latina hosting a school dance through a partnership with Highland’s Student Council within the month of March prior to the launch of Fiesta Latina in April 2025. One of the main ideas for this dance is for attendees to be exposed to a more diverse selection and genres of music, rather than just stereotypically used songs in Spanish played at school events such as, “Gasolina”, “Suavemente”, and “Corazón Sin Cara”.

Although most of these thoughts are still in the works currently, one thing that is confirmed for Unión Latina, is their attendance at Highland’s tailgating on Saturday, September 21st (10am-12pm)! They will be fundraising for the club with the intention to plan, announce, and host future events. Their menu this year consists of chocoflan ($4), donated by club member Lorena Castro-Cruz, tres leches ($5) and Jarritos ($2), donated by board member, Bianca Torres, conchas ($4), donated by Vice President Jozzban Orellana-Guiterrez, horchata ($3), donated by President Kenia Saravia-Marques, chicharrones ($3), donated by Administrator Alysha Kellner, and bottled water ($1).

If you want a place to learn about the culture of Latin American countries, to express your culture and your individuality, or to help plan events and be more involved within Highland, Unión Latina is the club! Club meetings are held each week on Wednesdays from 3:10pm to 4:30pm in Sra. Kellner’s room, 3311. Everyone is welcome to attend, come show your support!