The Intercultural Engagement Center (IEC) welcomed students back from the summer during its
first meeting of the year on Friday, Aug. 30, where IEC staff revealed and discussed new
initiatives to celebrate diversity at Guilford.

Liz Torres Melendez, the Immigrant Student Coordinator at Guilford, led the meeting and
encouraged students to think about ideas for the first event of the year: a kickoff at the lake to
celebrate Latinx Heritage Month, 12-3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15.

There are already preparations under way, such as a stage and sound system for performers to
play live music and food trucks. Students at the meeting also brainstormed several activities
inspired by their experiences and heritage, including soccer, dominoes and card games.

The IEC also plans to host several other events for Latinx Heritage Month. They include a
screening of “Selena,” a film chronicling the life of the famous Tejano singer, a Hispanos Unidos
de Guilford (HUG) talk on colorism in the Latinx community and educational events on campus
to discuss family separation at the border and Latinx identity.

This year’s increased efforts for Latinx Heritage Month are part of a push to celebrate more
identities on campus and create a more robust calendar going forward.

With students from a wide variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds, the IEC is continuing its
goal of celebrating the diversity that Guilford College has to offer. Over the next few months,
they will begin planning more events and become more active on campus.

“We’ve always focused a lot on Black History Month,” Melendez said about their annual goals.
“This year, we want to bring more attention to more backgrounds.”