Written by Jennifer Phelan & Bianca Alvarado
“The first time I felt truly welcomed on campus as a queer latine was during La Familia’s collage night during my junior year. As an introvert, making friends has always been daunting, but I knew to step out of my comfort zone sometimes. During this meeting, our purpose was to create these collages into vision boards, in which we shared some of our hopes, short and long-term. I sat next to a person whom I hadn’t talked much with, but with their comforting presence, our conversation blossomed rapidly. Being in a space where people got to know each other and share important pieces about themselves helped me ease my anxiety, and pushed me to feel more confident about my aspirations. The moments where imposter syndrome didn’t hover over my shoulder and invited me to regard myself as a valuable member of a community were crucial for my personal development and confidence.”
When one finds a community that is a reflection of themselves, there is a sense of security. You are relaxed, you breathe easier, you don’t overthink what you say, and you look forward to seeing your community again. I collaborated with Bianca Alvarado, a member of La Familia, to focus on the unique intersections between health/well-being topics and various cultural and sexual identities that La Familia touches on.
Bianca Alvarado is a fourth-year English and Chicano Studies double major. They are one of the co-presidents of La Familia. Bianca has been a member of La Familia since 2022, as they volunteered for activities such as fundraising and marketing. They later became a co-facilitator for the club, focusing on the newsletter, in which they helped create a new outlet for information provided for different identities in the Queer community.
La Familia (LaFa) is a group for Chicanx/Latinx students who identify with the LGBTQIA+ community. Since 2011, LaFa’s goal is to foster a sense of community and family amongst its members. They recognize the multitude of identities that LaFa members identify with by providing a sense of warmth in institutionalized spaces. They focus on mental health, academic, and social wellness. Their meetings range from study jams, social outings, to mental menudo. In their weekly newsletter, they promote scholarship opportunities, academic advising and tutoring hours, basic need resources such as Aggie Eats, and upcoming events in the LGBTQIA+ center and El Centro.
“La Familia has become such a big presence in my life. There is such a diverse population on campus and having a space where I can express myself is important for my mental health. Despite the academic challenges students face in higher education, I hope it’s relieving to have a space where you feel comfortable and celebrated. The goal of La Familia centers on creating a sense of community, which I consider an act of self-determination. To honor the people who have been present before us, and to continue to document our presence on campus is necessary for the future generations.” - Bianca Alvarado
It is important to highlight the intersection between queer and Chicanx/Latinx people because it is commonly overlooked. LaFa practices mindfulness when recognizing certain privileges people possess. It does not generalize one group’s experience, but rather highlights the different experiences and backgrounds its members have.
When I asked Bianca if they thought the organization’s name was fitting, if they truly felt like family within the group, they answered, “My co-president Vida described it as ‘a love letter to the members,’ caring for one another and supporting each other.” Family is the people that will be there to support you no matter what. It is obvious to me that La Familia provides the family community that it promises.
