Written by: Sophia Benavente-Sayani, Cisneros Scholar ‘27
Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month offers an opportunity to embrace and appreciate the rich tapestry of Latinx/Hispanic culture. It is a sentiment passionately echoed by Scholars of the Cisneros Institute, each with their own background and experiences that enrich our understanding of Latinx heritage.
First-year Cisneros Scholar, Nicole Becerra, draws her inspiration from her hard-working Peruvian parents. “Their perseverance, dedication, and kindness inspire me to make them and myself proud,” she notes. In her dual role as a Scholar and intern at the Institute, Nicole values the inclusive environment that reflects her heritage as well as the cultural background of her classmates, fostering a sense of belonging and understanding.
Isabella Insignares, now in her second year, hails from a diverse background spanning Colombia, Mexico, and Poland. She credits her mother, often the only Latina in the room, for teaching her strength and determination. For Isabella, the Cisneros Institute is a profoundly special place: a judgement-free, supportive, inclusive familia.
Likewise, first-year Scholars Claire Avalos and Malyna Trujillo see the Institute as “a home-away-from-home.” For Claire, the close-knit community at the Institute has significantly eased her transition during her first semester at GW. The family-like bonds formed at the Institute, which are integral in the Latinx community, are also important to Malyna, who is thousands of miles away from her family in California. Similarly, communities like Cisneros empower second-year Scholar Jesús Veliz to continue pursuing higher education. “We can create an environment that allows us to go against the institutional barriers in our way,” he said.
Beyond an environment of inclusiveness, Scholars also share the importance of representation.
“If you don’t see yourself reflected in the stained-glass window of history, find it and put a spotlight on it,” reflects Marko Sanchez, a first-year Scholar. Marko looks up to those who have paved the way for future generations, like Rudy Lozano, an advocate for the Mexican community of Little Village in Chicago. Malyna is inspired by Julie Chávez Rodriguez, who continues the fight for farmworker’s rights that her grandfather, Cesar Chávez, dedicated his life to. Malyna, like Chávez Rodriguez, hopes to carry on the legacy of previous generations.
Often feeling left out of Latinx spaces due to her identity as an Afro-Latina, first-year Scholar Jannalis Almonte encourages others to find their community. She admires Amara La Negra for embracing her afro-centric features. Amara is one of many figures in the world of broadened representation that Jannalis looks forward to emulating.
Hailing from Guatemala, the land of eternal spring, I, Sophia Benavente-Sayani, liken the Institute to a warm, welcoming ray of sunshine that I have sought throughout my life as a Latina Asian-American. My culture has inspired me to amplify the voices of the chronically underrepresented communities. I do this in the hopes that younger generations may relate to these narratives and be inspired to strive for greatness. Motivated by the strength of women in my country, like Guatemalan civil rights activist Rigoberta Menchú, I drive to confront adversity head-on.
The voices of the Scholars offer invaluable insights into the journeys of young Latinx leaders studying in the nation's capital. We must commemorate and embrace these stories during Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month and continue celebrating them year-round.
Sophia Benavente-Sayani is a Cisneros Scholar majoring in Political Science and History. Sophia's views are her own and not necessarily reflective of the Cisneros Institute.