House Life

House Life

Latin American Residential Program

Está más lejos Río de Río que tú a mí.
¿Cómo es eso?
¿Cómo es que acabando de llegar ya te hayas ido
y teniéndote cerca de mí toda la vida
no te he nunca tenido nunca?

¿Cómo es que mirándote en el espejo
has desaparecido del cuarto
y después de tanta presencia
solo tenemos la ausencia?

 

             

It is farther from Rio to Rio than you to me.
How is that?
How is it you’ve just arrived and you’ve already left
and having you near me all life long,
I’ve never had a grasp on you?

And how is it, watching you in the mirror,
you disappear from the room
and after so much presence
we grasp the absence, only?

—Homero Aridjis
How do we meaningfully engage with identity while learning about it? What do Latinx and Latin American identities teach us about identity and community? Established by students in 1985, the LARP – Latin American Residential Program – provides an inclusive and engaged residential community to expand our understanding and foster an appreciation for Latinx and Latin American cultures and languages in the College Houses. Students build community each other as they live on the same floor and Resident Advisors and Graduate Resident Associates (RAGRAs) serve as support for residents to cultivate interactions, experiences, and discoveries.

The Program invites residents to expand their understanding of other cultures and foster an appreciation for living in an intercultural community. At the conclusion of the academic year, residents will have:
• engage in personal identity exploration as well as develop understanding of the needs of different communities within the Latinx diaspora.
• learned about a wide variety of cultural traditions, to celebrate their own, and to engage meaningfully with traditions that are new to them.
• connected to other resources on campus for exploring Latinx community needs and identity, as well as developing a cocurricular experience alongside the Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies
• developed their critical thinking skills
• taken on leadership roles, and engaged with these topics through an interdisciplinary model.

Participants will be expected to participate in programs organized by the PC RA and to take a leadership role in developing programs throughout the year. Residents can expect to be heavily involved with shaping the direction of this residential experience and involved in the development of new traditions. We will attend programs on campus, connect with the rich Latinx communities in Philadelphia through festivals, community service opportunities, academic resources, and more.

In the past, Domingo Social and Café con Leche Conversations have provided dynamic and topical discussions. Events like a private dinner with the Mexican Consul and viewings of documentaries about Latin America have also contributed to student learning. Most recently, LARP has hosted an interactive maraca painting workshop in collaboration with La Casa Latina, hosted a showing of In the Heights featuring authentic Mexican food catering from Don Barriga, and planned a trip to South Philly Barbacoa to support thriving Latinx communities living in Philadelphia.

Program Goals: The Program invites residents to expand their understanding of other cultures and foster an appreciation for living in an intercultural community. At the conclusion of the academic year, residents will have developed their critical thinking skills, taken on leadership roles, and engaged with these topics through an interdisciplinary model. 

Participant Expectations: The Program RAGAs will review details and activities at the beginning of the academic year, where residents will receive their LARP Compact. Residents will be expected to participate in the following, as decided by the RAGAs:

  • 1 major event per month
  • 1 minor event per month
  • Implement 1 minor floor event as determined by the RAGAs
  • Host 1 House program per semester

Contact:
Megan Jimmerson, House Director

For more information, see: 
Latin American Residential Program
Program Members: 31