For the first time, students who identify as Hispanic and Latinx finally have an affinity space to gather specifically for them. Raices, which means roots in Spanish, was established by Sophia Lopez ‘26 and Victoria Coindet ‘26 this year.
“We came up with the idea our sophomore year when we realized many Hispanic and Latinx students were not attending SHADES because they felt that it wasn’t a space for them,” says Sophia. Before Raices, SHADES was an affinity group for black and Hispanic students. With Raices, SHADES is now just for Black students. Though SHADES was a previous option, Sophia “personally felt that at times it was not a space for me and was more geared to Black Students and issues they faced. While Black and Hispanic students have many things in common such as culture and struggles, we also have many differences that some can’t relate to.” Rachel Nagler, Director of Community, Equity, and Inclusion, thinks that “there was a strong alliance between a lot of Latinx students and black students, and they had a lot of intersections. Many of our students are multiracial and are both Black and Latina. So it naturally overlapped because it was like one human with more than one identity.”
Victoria says, “There is so much more to these cultures and people than what meets the eye and we hope to shed some light on that.”
Ms Nagler is “excited that Vicky and Sophia are speaking up for students that might need more support and more individualized identity in the Dana community.” She hopes that the broader school community will show support through “showing up to events, responding to any feedback that comes out of their group and encouraging each other to attend other affinity and alliance groups.”
Seventeen students have joined Raices and attend meetings that celebrate and honor Hispanics’ and Latinx’s culture and ancestors. Sophia said, “During times where many of our communities are facing adversity and suffering, it is important to discuss these events, but also to celebrate and remember that Hispanics and Latinos are essential to our society. We want this club to be a positive and safe environment during chaotic times, and give students a sense of normalcy and pride instead of anxiety and shame about their heritage.”
During Hispanic Heritage Month, which is between September 15 to October 15, Raices organized meals with the dining hall staff to serve food from different Hispanic and Latinx communities. In a recent meeting, everyone in Raices painted their palms on a paper tree symbolizing the first group of Raices. Victoria says “this project meant a lot to me as it meant the start of a hopefully long-lasting and essential group to the Dana community.”
Regarding the broader Dana community, Victoria “hopes for people to have more awareness and education about different Latin cultures.” Sophia says, “We hope the Dana community will support us by their willingness to learn and cheer our group on as we continue to grow.”
After graduating Dana Hall this year, Sophia plans to join a Hispanic affinity group in college, which “is incredibly important to me, as I hope to grow my knowledge of my own community, and celebrate my culture with students at my future college.” Victoria is excited that “many colleges and universities already have established affinity groups” and she “hopes to be able to partake and have a role within these student organizations.”
“The experience I gain in Raices is something that I hope to carry into college”, Victoria says.
Ms Nagler says, “I’m very impressed with Sophia and Vicky, and I think what they’re leaving behind is a legacy and an opportunity for other Latin students to take that on, and to feel seen very specifically through their identity, knowing that every child, every student, is a really multifaceted person.”