Good food and talented performers were the highlight of Salsabor, held on September 27th in the Witherspoon Student Center on campus. Mi Familia, the largest Latin organization on campus, presented their annual cultural event as a way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month.
The event lasted two hours from six to eight with food catered from Mami Nora’s, a well known Peruvian restaurant located 11 minutes from campus on Wake Forest Rd. A culinary favorite, Mami Nora’s served grilled chicken, traditional sides like plantains, rice, and beans, as well as delicious deserts like tres leches cake and flan.
While the food was a major draw for some students, for others, Salsabor was a chance to learn a little more about Hispanic culture. The diversity of the performances and presentations provided the perfect opportunity for others to learn about the role that Latinos play in the United States.
Cristal Vivanco, the president of Mi Familia, started the event with an intriguing educational piece. Hispanic Heritage week was introduced by president Lyndon Johnson, then president Ronald Reagan extended the week to a month, which runs from September 15 to October 15. Vivanco began her presentation with the quote, “in order to know where we are going, we must know where we come from.” For many Latinos, it is not only a month to celebrate who we are, but also a month to remember where we come from and what those that came before us had in mind when sacrificing as much as they did.
Along with awareness about the culture, there was time dedicated to connecting students with resources available on campus. Mary Medina, Ph.D. student and the graduate assistant at the Multicultural Student Affairs office, presented on behalf of MSA about what the office does on a regular basis to support the Latino population at N.C. State. Many campus events for Hispanic Heritage Month have been almost entirely sponsored by MSA.
Throughout the presentations there were poems read by various students as well as skits reflecting how Latinos can easily educate others about their culture. For many of these speakers and performers, Salsabor is a showcase that allows them to involve the community. As the first cultural event that Mi Familia holds every fall, Salsabor has become a tradition and the ideal event for students in the community to become exposed to Hispanic heritage on N.C. State’s campus.
Sube Ritmo, N.C. State’s only Latin dance team, performed at the end, giving the crowd a little taste of the Latin culture. They performed bachata and salsa dances, two of the most popular dance styles in Latin America.
Jackie Garcia, a senior in Fashion and Textile Management, has been with the team for four years, and for her Latin dancing “is a way to . . . tell a story. Sometimes the song tells the story and sometimes you try to tell a story about the culture.” Immediately following the event, Sube Ritmo held a dance workshop for guests of Salsabor to participate in, teaching the basic steps and some of the easier beginner moves.
When asking Vivanco what she thought of the turn out for the event at the end of the night, she was excited to say that it was much more than what she was expecting. “I was completely surprised that they sold out, yet glad that there was enough food along with space for everyone to fully enjoy Salsabor.”
Carlos Vega, a fourth year student in Civil Engineering, attended Salsabor for the second year in a row. “I liked what they were trying to convey, which is that this program is for everyone, not just Latinos, that anyone can come learn about Latino heritage.”
