Kicking off the celebrations in September, not long after the start of the new school year, Head of School Jenny Rao teamed up with Emma Dining and La Capital Tacos to bring a special snack to the community. With a location in downtown Troy, La Capital was the perfect partner to supply our campus with various salsas to enjoy together one afternoon!

This moment also kicks off a monthly series at Emma Willard School, during which our community will share foods that are part of the many cultures that make up our campus (stay tuned on our socials for updates on the next one in October!)

Students from the Latine Affinity Group also provided slides for the screens throughout campus, filled with suggestions for celebrating this month. Recommended movies include, Selena, In the Heights, La Dama del Silencio, Encanto, and more. They also provided recommendations for products and companies, books, and a great Spotify playlist!

View the entire presentation here.

October also brought a special edition of morning reports to welcome visiting alumnae from the Class of 1961, introduce our community to the first Speaker Series event of the year, and to learn about members of our community who identify as apart of that Latine Hispanic community—in Spanish (translations were provided for those who don’t speak Spanish).

Community members shared their personal history, including favorite memories, foods, and observations about different cultures. Head of School Jenny Rao shared her life-long admiration for singer Luis Miguel,  while housekeeping staff members Manuela Parra shared about the first time she saw snow, and Guadalupe Arbizu spoke about differences she has noted between the United States and her home in Nicaragua. 

“I hope that all of us in the Hispanic community can remain curious about our differences,” said Housekeeping Manager Enrique Ignacio, “and in doing so celebrate the rich diversity that exists within our Hispanic culture.”