Latin American Programs kicked off their fall 2025 semester with an open house event, “Tardecita Latina,” at the Garcia Center Backyard on Aug. 28.
Translated as “Latina Afternoon,” the event invited community members to a host of food, music, and tables from programs both on and off campus. Some of the tables offered information and services that were specific to the needs of Aggies of Hispanic or Latin American descent.
The Mexican consulate in El Paso had a table at the event. Guadalupe Rivas, an official who represented the consulate at the event, explained they tabled to reach out to Mexican citizens studying at New Mexico State University.
“It’s important that we show up at events like these,” Rivas said. “We know that a lot of people of Mexican origin come to the United States to study here, so we need to provide those students information about their status here. Let them know what rights they have in both countries, and that they can contact the general consulate’s office whenever they need it.”
Another group tabling at the event was New Mexico Dream Team. The NMSU Chapter President of Dream Team, Zarya Martinez, said the program helps people who are of mixed residence status access resources, especially as the political environment becomes more hostile to them.
“We want people to find a safe and comfortable space, especially for those of immigrant status,” Martinez said. “Our program provides a community, and it provides resources. For example, we have done a ‘Know Your Rights’ workshop before. We have also invited students to sit down with us and help them go over important things like scholarships.”
Las Cruces Public Libraries also had a table at Tardecita Latina. Library Programs Manager Shuly Serrano and Outreach and Marketing Librarian Elizabeth Puckett represented the public libraries system at their table and hosted an activity for visitors at the event.
“Our general outreach setup here is a way for people to get a library card without having to make a trip to one of our locations, as well as highlighting different library programs for all age groups,” Puckett said. “We will usually have activities for our outreach, so today we are doing button-making. But it could be a coding activity if we had a table at a STEM event.”
Serrano mentioned one of her favorite things about the event had been telling students about the free access they have to the city’s libraries and their catalogues.
“I think that quite a few times already people have asked me ‘Well how much is it to get a library card?’ And when we tell them it is free, they are very surprised,” Serrano said. “And I think the fact I make their day kind of makes my day too. Knowing that the people here have access to our library.”
Latin American Programs’ next event will be a social dance with the City of Las Cruces Public Libraries on Sep. 14.
