“Voces Fuertes” means “strong voices,” and it is also the name of the new immigrant advocacy group on campus that will be making its official debut on Thursday, April 17 at 3 p.m. in Schrock Plaza. This group has been in the works for some time, meeting weekly since spring break as they prepared to have at least one event before the semester was over.

Areli Guzman, a senior biochemistry major and one of the founders of Voces Fuertes, made reference to racist remarks in bills such as HB 3133, an antiterrorism  act passed in Oklahoma, and executive orders by President Trump when she explained why a group such as this is necessary. “We want to create an inclusive and safe space while advocating for the rights of everyone,” Guzman said.

Guzman added, “I remember we would talk about some of these things that were being signed or said, and we felt very powerless. We could just talk about it, but what could we do?” After talking to Gilberto Pérez Jr, dean of students and vice president for student life and Hispanic serving initiatives, she and several other students decided to found the group.

Pérez Jr. spoke fondly of the students who began the group: “It’s been a beautiful thing to observe how they have found themselves in the midst of the new challenges, the new reality with the new administration and how they are saying to themselves, ‘We are strong. We have a voice.’”

The group has numerous events already planned for the fall semester, such as an advocacy writing workshop to write letters that can be sent to governors and other legislators. They are also going to collaborate with Latino Student Union for the Hispanic Heritage Month convocation.

Thursday’s event is essentially the club’s introduction to campus. There will be snacks such as esquites and aguas frescas, and there will be fliers that provide more information on how to support and connect with the group.

“I want to help educate others that don’t feel as impacted with these policies and know what is going on with our current administration,” Guzman said, further explaining the goals of the club.

Ashley Garcia Coto, junior biochemistry major and another cofounder of the group, elaborated and added: “I think it’s important when faculty realizes what … students are going through in these personal hard times. So I think if they’re aware that helps them shape their education better and create more personal relationships.”

So far, the group has been largely self-driven. Pérez Jr. shared the story of how the students reached out to Maria Banderas, the organizer of a community protest about a month ago. Banderas came to one of their meetings and they asked her questions such as, “Who was going to speak? Who was allowed to speak? What are the safety protocols? What happens if people start throwing insults and things of that nature?” Pérez Jr. said. He also said that they were able to help Banderas think of precautions that she hadn’t considered before.

Pérez Jr said that he gets goosebumps with the way that a “student group can help shape the conversation.”

Other founding members of the group include Jonathan Soto, Estefania Soto, Ariana Montiel, Citlali Hernandez and Sara Olayo-Evangelista. Pérez Jr. is the faculty advisor for the club. Garcia Coto said, “A lot of the leaders in Voces Fuertes are also leaders of other organizations.”

Each member of the group brings their own perspective to it, such as Guzman, who likes to read the actual bills that are signed. She feels that this gives her a better idea of what is going on than the news does, and it helps her be able to tell her friends what has been signed, and what it means.

Pérez Jr. recounted a memory of being contacted by a student who had heard something about the group and was interested in learning more. He connected the student via email with the other students involved in the group. Within minutes, Pérez Jr. said, snapping his fingers, the members of Voces Fuertes were replying and welcoming the newcomer.

Guzman is a certified nursing assistant at the Goshen Hospital Cancer Center, and she recollected encountering patients who were afraid to even order meals at the hospital because they were afraid of being reported.

Other hard stories were shared, and tears shed, at a meeting with some faculty, founding students and community members, when the group didn’t yet have a name. Amidst the more difficult stories, there was also a sense of coming together. After that meeting, a few days later, the students reached out to Pérez Jr. and said that they had decided on the name “Voces Fuertes.”

They have been advertising the group through the communicator and social media. Garcia Coto said that the main thing she wants people to do is to follow the club on Instagram and come to their events in the new semester.

Speaking of the way the club hopes to advocate and make an impact, Pérez Jr. said, “That is key to what we need to be doing in this country today.” He said, “I’m excited to see Voces Fuertes come to life.”