This Hispanic Heritage Month - which runs from September 15 - October 15 - Up2Us Sports will honor and celebrate our Hispanic and Latinx coaches, VISTAs, staff, and host sites. Each week we will feature members of the Up2Us Sports family who proudly represent their Hispanic heritage and who all wanted to share a bit more about themselves, their culture and how it has shaped who they are and the work they do in the SBYD field.
NAME: RONNY DELGADO ZAVALA
POSITION: UP2US SPORTS COACH
LOCATION: SOUTH BRONX UNITED - NEW YORK, NEW YORK
What special point of view has your Hispanic heritage given to you?
My culture has no boundaries. In my culture, we learn how to respect other cultures, even to include them in ours to get a taste of them. We love our culture but we like to learn from others as well.
Why is Hispanic Heritage Month so important?
It’s really important to remind ourselves where we are coming from. The work our ancestors have done for us is what matters to us. Our ancestors brought us here, and I respect, understand, and admire everything they did to bring us here.
NAME: CINDY CAJAMARCA
POSITION: UP2US SPORTS VISTA
LOCATION: TURN 2 US - NEW YORK, NEW YORK
What do you love most about your culture?
Mexico is a beautiful country with kind people, rich in history, delicious food, and a love for music. I was very lucky to grow up in Mexico because I could connect with my mom’s family and now share beautiful memories with them. One of the things that I love about my culture is the music. I feel that it brings us together in celebrations and there’s never a right or wrong way to dance, you go with the music! I love that the food is delicious and you can taste every ingredient in your meal. Not only is the food delicious, but it’s made with love because it’s made from family recipes. Holidays are a wonderful time that brings the family together. As a kid, it was a beautiful experience to see all of the fireworks and colors that fill those special days. I loved going on walks to the pyramids of Tlachihualtepetl, pyramids that were so big I could see my neighborhood from a distance! I was also amazed to learn that 68 indigenous languages are spoken in Mexico. Mexico is my happy place. It’s a treasure box with many wonderful surprises.
What special point of view has your Hispanic heritage given you?
I was born in East Elmhurst, New York but was raised in Cholula, Puebla, Mexico. When we moved back to New York, I felt lost because English isn’t my first language. I was very lucky to have supportive friends, family, and neighbors that helped me adjust. However, there were many things that I had to navigate on my own because my family was still unfamiliar with many school programs. From an early age and from the experiences I encountered, I knew I wanted to make a difference in my community. I helped at my church and took part in community service that would help my community. My Hispanic heritage has influenced my career decision because I know that whatever I do in the future, I want it to help my community.
NAME: DANIELLE LUGO
POSITION: PROGRAM MANAGER, UP2US SPORTS
LOCATION: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
What special point of view has your Hispanic heritage given you?
My great aunts and uncles were forced to assimilate and stop speaking Spanish in school. Generations later my family no longer can speak the language. Hispanic heritage month lets us share those stories with each other and reminds me to continue to connect with my roots as a chicana and embrace more of my culture.
Why do you think it’s important for organizations like Up2Us Sports to have a diverse representation on their staff, especially when working in communities of color?
It's important for Up2Us Sports to have a diverse staff because we are from the communities we represent. I take pride in going to watch my coaches at Belvedere park in East LA because I live less than 5 minutes away and know they are impacting the youth in my community.
What do you love most about your culture?
Being a Chicana, I loved growing up in the lowriding scene where my dad was a well known lowrider builder. I have lived my life near the famous Whittier boulevard in East LA where you can catch the lowriders cruising and hitting switches on a Sunday afternoon. Lowriders are art on wheels and a form of expression for builders. Truly beautiful.
NAME: ANDY JENKINS AND JOSHUA MARTIN GUERRA
POSITION: DIRECTOR OF SOCCER PROGRAMS AND COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH MANAGER
LOCATION: SOUTH BRONX UNITED - NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Why is Hispanic Heritage Month so important?
Hispanic Heritage Month is about celebrating and recognizing the achievements and contributions of a beautifully diverse population. Many of us who celebrate this month may not identify as Hispanic, but we can all find inspiration and role models in the stories that are told. Ultimately, that's what is so important and powerful to us at SBU—the student-athletes that we serve see possibilities for themselves in the individuals and communities that we celebrate this month.
What special point of view has your Hispanic heritage given you?
The South Bronx is today and has historically been shaped by people whose origins in Latin America are a basis for connection and cooperation not just with each other, but with the many others with origins from all over the world who seek to build in this place a community that thrives. Every week at SBU we have the privilege of seeing these connections that are built on common heritage and shared passion blossom into the relationships that propel our community forward.
How does your organization support young Hispanic/LatinX individuals
Half of all of the young people that South Bronx United serves every year identify as Hispanic or LatinX. Through SBU programs on the soccer field and in the classroom, these student-athletes find opportunities to grow as scholars, leaders, and engaged members of an incredibly diverse community. 100% of SBU Academy student-athletes graduate high school, and 93% of those go on to college. SBU also works to ensure that all participants in its programs receive immigration relief eligibility screenings. South Bronx United is recognized by the Office of Legal Access Programs at the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide immigration legal services with an accredited representative; and has has helped 31 previously undocumented young people receive their legal permanent residency, also known as Green Cards.
