As Immigration and Customs Enforcement forces are given more power by the Trump  administration, the nation bears witness to an overwhelming rise in stigma and discrimination against the Hispanic and Latino communities. Illegal abductions and wrongful deportations continue to go unchecked and unpunished, leaving families ruined, communities torn apart, and lives completely disrupted. Amongst these seemingly hopeless times, it is important to form strong relationships and communities with one another to create resistance against the torrential feelings of despair and anger shared across the nation. Here at Hendrix College, we’ve seen protests and heard the voices of members of this community who cry out against the wrongdoings of the current administration. It is important that the Hendrix student body can find resources and spaces to connect with one another and share cultural values. One space that is specifically oriented towards these community-building goals is the Organization for Latino Expression, an organization that embraces people from every culture and encourages a mutual celebration of cultural heritage through sharing practices, history, and education of Latino cultures. With eight committee members, one specific member, MaylinRodriguez, serves as a co-president for the club. Maylin is a senior psychology major with a social justice minor here at Hendrix. Regarding the significance of OLE, Maylin provides deep insight into its role on campus and how its impact can be shared throughout the College’s community. “We represent one of the smallest demographics on campus, and that means something. Representation is power, and we hope to show that even the smallest communities can empower others to feel like they belong.” OLE helps promote belonging and diversity during a time when these concepts are attacked at the highest level of government. OLE hosts several events a year, with some of their most notable events being Salsa Night, Dia de los Niños, OLE Movie Night, and Latin Club night. In describingeach of these events, Maylin highlights OLE’s initiative in including more than simply free food orfree dance lessons. “Our goal is to provide not only food, music, and a good time; we also … Continue reading Hendrix Olé on ICE: Cultural Communities as Resistance