Colombian Wayüü Indigenous artist and entrepreneur Yeimis Monsalve Mercado of the Pushaina caste participated in a Brock Spanish class project as an interviewee. She presented items handmade by Wayüü Indigenous people as part of the community-focused event celebrating heritage cultural on Wednesday, April 3 at Brock.Community connection was front and centre at a recent event that brought together Brock students and representatives from the Niagara Latino community to celebrate cultural heritage and diversity.
Held on Wednesday, April 3 in Brock’s Global Commons, the event included a video screening and panel discussion hosted by the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures (MLLC) to showcase the culminating work of Intermediate Spanish students in the SPAN 1F90 course.
MLLC Instructor Erin Redmond designed the experiential project to bring language and culture alive for the class.
Students were tasked with exploring the theme of community by conducting interviews in Spanish with representatives from Latino and Latino-focused groups throughout the Niagara region.
The interviews were recorded and then edited together to create a ten-minute video presented to the interviewees and wider community.
In addition to strengthening their linguistic skills, students gained new perspectives on cultural knowledge and enriched their understanding of the Spanish-speaking world in local and international contexts.
“The experiential aspect involved students in the local, real-world work of Niagara’s Latino groups working to welcome newcomers, assist workers, facilitate healthcare and promote cultural diversity,” Redmond said.
Moises Vasquez (left) from QUEST Community Health Centre was one of several guests invited to the final course reception for SPAN 1F90 Intermediate Spanish on Wednesday, April 3. Vasquez was interviewed by second-year Kinesiology student David Osorio.
Second-year Kinesiology student David Osorio interviewed Moises Vasquez, who works at Quest Community Health Centre (CHCW) in the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Health Program (SAWHP).
Vasquez helps Seasonal Agricultural Workers (SAWs) in the Niagara region access various healthcare services. For Osorio, who aspires to work in athletic therapy, it was a meaningful conversation he won’t soon forget.
“In my career, I will be working with individuals from diverse backgrounds. This experience not only helped me build my Spanish skills, but also allowed me to learn about other people’s lived experiences and their challenges gaining access to healthcare,” he said.
Osorio said he now has a better understanding of the healthcare system in Ontario and key community organizations that help to create a better and healthier experience for people coming to Canada for the first time.
Vasquez said that attending the event “was a powerful moment to come together connected as a community and we are proud to see how Brock students are making a community impact.”
Interviewee Marvin Molina from Latinos in Niagara, an organization that promotes Latino businesses, lifestyle and cultural events in the region, echoed Vaquez’s sentiment.
“It was wonderful to see Brock students reaching out to organizations that promote cultural heritage; we all have a vital role to play in telling these stories,” Molina said.
Other participating organizations included Niagara Migrant Workers’ Interest Group (NMWIG), Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre, Welland McMaster Family Health Team and the Niagara Falls Diversity Festival.
