Imagine stepping into a continental restaurant where the aroma of spices dance in the air, vibrant music pulses through your veins and laughter echoes from every corner. On Sept. 18, Augie’s campus transformed into just that – a kaleidoscope of cultures, flavors and unity during the first ever culture houses block party.
The event was held at Augie’s three culture houses: Casa Latina, the Black Culture House and the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Culture House. It was an initiative led by vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Dr. Gauri A. Pitale, whose vision was to increase campus-wide engagement with the culture houses and to foster a greater sense of belonging among students of all backgrounds.
“I realized that there was great potential to bring attention to these spaces,” Pitale said. “While they are created to elevate the identities of our diverse students, they should also be viewed as campus spaces for everyone.”
From painting tote bags to exploring the decorated houses, attendees had the opportunity to engage with the student organizations that maintain these spaces. Murals, hand-painted by students and alumni, adorn the walls of each house, reflecting the personalities and cultures within. At Casa Latina, a mural salvaged from the original building represents the resilience of the Latinx community on campus.
Each culture house offers unique resources including study spaces, a kitchen, library, lounges for relaxation and a variety of programming that fosters cross-cultural dialogue.
Sophomore Afua Asirifi-Bonsu, assistant office coordinator of DEI, led the tour in Casa Latina and encouraged attendees to visit.
“During the week, you can come here from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and there is usually a culture house coordinator who will let you in,” Asirifi-Bonsu said.
Another major event which took place was the raffle, adding an extra layer of excitement and anticipation to the festivities. Winners were announced at the end of the event, and students had the chance to walk away with a variety of useful and fun prizes, like school supplies, snacks and even a backpack.
While the block party might have looked like a seamless celebration, preparation for the event spanned nearly four months and involved multiple faculty and student organizations. Pitale’s DEI team and Executive Assistant of DEI and Human Resources Tyler Kinney were at the forefront of the planning process. They worked closely with the Office of Student Inclusion and Diversity (OSID), Office of International Student and Scholar Services, Office of Student Life (OSL) and Office of Civil Rights and Title IX.
The facilities team played a vital role by preparing the houses – deep cleaning, replacing broken furniture and even assembling new pieces to ensure that the spaces looked their best. The Office of Communications and Marketing helped design new signage for the houses and created promotional materials for the event, while catering services organized a diverse spread of ethnic foods for attendees to enjoy.
Student organizations also contributed significantly to the event. Groups such as the Global Engagement Team (GET), Asian Student Organization (ASO), African Student Association (ASA), Black Student Union (BSU), Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA), Latinx Unidos (LU) and Student Government Association (SGA) were all involved in making the day a success.
“We were very appreciative of the fact that they wanted to collaborate,” Pitale said.
The DEI office spearheaded much of the planning for the block party, but the leadership of these student organizations played a significant role in organizing their own house-specific events. These included games and activities to keep students and faculty entertained at the culture houses.
Santiago Miranda, president of Latinx Unidos, shared his experience working in collaboration with his executive board in preparation for the event.
“The DEI Office gave us the space to do our thing, and we took it from there, each house contributing in its own way,” Miranda said.
This autonomy allowed the other student leaders, Aniyah Davis and Rachel Jocson, presidents of the Black Culture House and APIDA House respectively, to work with other student organizations to plan unique activities that reflected the essence of their cultural groups.
“We wanted to give students, especially those who might be feeling far from home, a space where they could feel connected to their culture,” Jocson said.
At Casa Latina, there was a tortilla-making event showcasing one of the cornerstones of Latin American culture – food. Miranda also collaborated with the president of GSA, Sofia Garza, who organized friendship bracelet making and mini canvas painting.
With plenty to choose from, the block party proved popular, drawing students and faculty from all backgrounds and creating a lively atmosphere.
“Our internal goal was 300 plus [attendees]. We hit that, so I’m very happy,” Pitale said.
The positive response from the student body was another indication of the event’s success. First-Year students in particular were excited to meet new people and explore spaces that were previously unfamiliar to them.
“Coming in as a First-Year, I got to meet so many people and learn about the history of the culture houses. It was a great introduction to campus life,” First-Year Daisy Fiagbedu said.
This year, the culture houses have already hostd more than just one event, providing opportunities for food, socialization and celebration. Most recently were the ASA and BSU barbecue, a moon festival by ASO and a series of events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month by LU.
In addition to the Hispanic Heritage Month festivities, Latinx Unidos is gearing up for one of their biggest events of the year. On December 7th, the organization will host a large community event at Wallenberg Hall with an expected attendance of 300 – 400 people. This annual gathering is a cornerstone for Latinx Unidos, celebrating Latin American Culture through performances, food and community building activities.
“It is a huge event for us and we are excited to welcome everyone; students, faculty and members of the community to celebrate with us,” Miranda said.
As the day concluded, a sense of community and celebration lingered in the air. Though there are no immediate plans for another block party, the culture houses remain open to everyone and serve as dynamic living reminders of the importance of appreciation and inclusivity.
