Summer 2025 Newsletter

Dear Latin Americanist Community,

                 I wish this message was a straightforward congratulatory note to our students graduating this month. Unfortunately, I begin acknowledging the difficult moment our university and city experience because of federal immigration enforcement actions and the presence of thousands of national guards and marines in the region. Los Angeles is a city of immigrants, and many community members are afraid for their integrity and the wellbeing of their families. It is profoundly sad and unjust that many students and parents are pondering whether it is worth taking the risk of attending graduation. UCLA senior leaders have shared a message expressing the university’s solidarity and explaining resources available to immigrants and international students, which can be consulted here.

         I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all graduates and their families. A person’s completion of an undergraduate or an advanced degree is both an individual and a collective accomplishment. The LAI is proud to help many UCLA students cross the finish line every year by supporting, educationally and financially, their research project and foreign language acquisition endeavors. On behalf of all at the Latin American Institute, good luck with your postgraduate plans and stay in touch!

         We are finishing the academic year with our annual in-person workshop for K-12 educators. This year’s theme, Rhythms in Migration:The Ongoing Presence of African Influences in Latin American Music, will be continued next year with the addition of dance as social and cultural practice. You can always watch and learn the recorded lectures by artists and scholars who participated in the current cycle and that are now available on the LAI’s YouTube channel.

         I’m happy to announce a new contribution to our blog. The article, Inside the Community of Califla: Passion, Identity, and Legacy, by Mallory Adragna (with photos by Luis Felipe Romaneli) examines myriad social and cultural connections between Brazil and the United States, zooming in on the followers of Brazilian soccer club, Flamengo, and their lively gatherings in southern California. Thanks for this wonderful contribution to our blog, Mallory!

         I close this message inviting you to give to the mission of the UCLA Latin American Institute and its centers, programs, and working groups. Your generous contributions support the lively intellectual life of the institute, student research, and our vibrant outreach activities.  

Rubén Hernández-León,
Director of the UCLA Latin American Institute