News

Announcement from El Centro Chicano y Latino on the importance of providing a supportive environment where all students can thrive and live as their authentic selves at Stanford.

The article below uses the term “Chicano,” a popular identifier for Mexican Americas at that time. A more diverse Latino student population did not begin until the mid-1970s

"I always admired [Elvira's] ability to strike a balance between honoring Stanford's rich Chicano legacy and creating room for an increasingly diverse student body.""

"When we organized Afro-Latine and Caribbean-centered events, Elvira and El Centro staff supported and celebrated alongside us."

"I remember how we came together frequently to engage in discussion over machismo, racism within the Latine Diaspora, and attacks against our community..."

"As a queer, GNC, Haitian-American, I had been welcomed so warmly and so easily within the community."

"Elvira has demonstrated that serving comunidad takes more than demanding things to get done; it takes hard work, life experiences, and a genuine love for the empowerment..."

"I discovered that Elvira was always ready to lend an ear and offer valuable advice and support."

"Growing up, I was raised in a culturally rich Mexican and Puerto Rican household."

"I also observed a growing awareness that the center needed to be more inclusive of all facets of Latinidad"

Elvira "consistently modeled what it meant to bring in perspectives from across our community."

"Elvira is an institution at the university: for years, she's created open spaces for building community, encouraged open dialogue, and tirelessly championed students..."

"I discovered a community that was made to authentically nurture and uplift students not only like those of my specific background, but all who were in pursuit of belonging."

"As a person of Central American heritage, I felt welcomed, seen, and included."

Reposted from an opinion letter on The Stanford Daily

"I opted to use my training in nonviolent crisis intervention and violence de-escalation to assess and diffuse the level of hostility being incited by the students"