Goshen College hosted the inaugural Nuestras historias event last week, a look at the journeys of Latino professionals in the media and communication industries. The event featured panels, a keynote address, music and refreshments.
Lily Herrera, a sophomore broadcasting major, was one of the panel members and was eager to be a part of the event.“I was really interested because we never really talked about such a niche thing before,” Herrera said. “We are a Hispanic-Serving Institution, but we never talked about Hispanics in broadcasting, so I thought it’d be really cool to be a part of it.”
Herrera hoped that her words could be useful to young people who were considering a career in broadcasting, and also took things away from the speakers.
“On one of the panels, Vanessa [Padilla], when she was talking about how to grow in your own place; grow where you’re planted,” Herrera said. “I found that was such a good little piece of advice. Even in little Goshen, Indiana, you can grow there into such a beautiful plant or person.”
Sarah Lopez Ramirez, a senior film production major, also served on one of the panels. `
“I hope to continue to see representation grow from Latinos,” she said. “Not only visually like seeing Latino actors, but behind the scenes. I hope Latinos grow in being the ones that tell the story or manage the story being told.”
“It was such a warm feeling to know that a lot of people care and that others are inspired to follow the same paths,” Lopez Ramirez said.
After the success of the first event, hopes are high for a second.
“I really hope they do that event again,” Herrera said. “I think it’d be a lot of fun to get … a different key speaker and some more panelists.”
Lopez Ramirez agreed: “It would be nice if we could promote it more around the community through word of mouth and advertising. Maybe make it into something bigger than a GC event and have the community help out.
“I think continuing events like these will help the community come together and learn about each other.”
