Kean University is renowned as one of the most diverse schools in New Jersey. As such, they work copiously to include every unique culture within the community. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15 annually. As a part of celebrating the Latino culture, the Human Rights Institute (HRI) has invited the We Are You Project.

The We Are You Project is in international initiative exploring social justice and immigration through multimedia. Every year since 2010, the exhibition has been held in a different part of the world. Through a combination of poetry, visual art, film, performance art and lectures, the Hispanic heritage is celebrated. The project serves to increase awareness, incite dialogue and inspire action. Additionally, they challenge people to embrace diversity and combat prejudices.

Elizabeth Turchi, director of HRI, explains aptly, “Here at Kean we believe that art conveys the human struggle and human experience when words fail us. The very name of the project, We Are You,…challenges each of us to appreciate diversity.”

On September 15, 2015, the HRI held an art exhibit to launch the campaign sponsored by the office of student government. Featuring 35 distinct artists, each piece attempts to explore the identities and experiences of Latinos locally, nationally and internationally. A majority of the art depicts the social, cultural and economic conditions faced by those within the Latino community.

Vistors embark on the We Are You Project exhibit
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Jose Robiero, featured artist, explains how “it’s really hard to do political art. You really have to go to the heart of the issue.” As a part of the reception, Kean University’s very own singer/songwriter Sophia Angelica performed the anthem for the We Are You Project. Hiram Colon, instrumentalist and educator, composed the song “We Are You” as a theme to the international initiative. Beyond that, the night featured catered food, inspiring speeches and a dialogue among the artists.

There are five central concepts that serve as themes for the We Are You Project. The first concept is Latino immigration, which is a significant topic of discussion in society today. The second is the “Latinization” of America. In 1992, Jose Robiero invented the word Latinization. He states, “It pretty much means the spread of Latino culture, the art, the music, the literature, all of it.” The third theme centralized on anti-Latino backlash, which has also been surfacing a lot contemporarily. The fourth focuses on the rise of Pan-Latino transculturalism and the fifth is the investigation of diverse Latino identities emerging from the rising population of Latinos in the United States. These themes are essential to the works the artists produced and to the project as a whole.

Artists from numerous parts of Latino culture contributed, representing places like Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Spain and Portugal. Latino students in particular were excited by the abundance of different faces of their people. Dayling Urquia, junior psychology major, states, “I can learn more about my own culture and grab more information. It’s nice to see everyone is involved and interested in our need.”

Artist, José Rodeiro, stands proudly in front of artwork
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Four of the world-renowned artists were members of the Kean community. Ricardo Fonsenca is a distinguished graphic designer and Nelson Alvarez, a well-known alumnus. In addition to them, two adjunct professors, Josephine Barreiro and Alvin E. Quiñones, both teach fine arts classes.

Artist, Monica S. Camin, stands proudly in front of artwork
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The night served as an opening reception for all the events that will take place throughout the month of celebration. The following events will feature art in various forms. There will be a poetry reading on October 8, a guest lecture/discussion on October 28 and a film screening on November 9. Each event is free and all are welcome. Robiero encourages students to attend each of these events. He states, “Latino students and minorities need to look at this in one way and the other students will see it differently...”

Visitors looking at various artworks
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Too often people designate a day, month or year to one demographic to dedicate all efforts to. Kean University recognizes that a culture cannot be condensed into 30 days.  In order to truly appreciate a culture, individuals must value all of it; from the mundane and trivial to the remarkable and profound. Students are encouraged to celebrate the different cultures, Latino and otherwise, every day in whatever way they can.

The exhibit will officially end in January of 2016. For a full list of We Are You Project artists, news and events, visit click here, and for information about the Human Rights Institute at Kean University, email HRI at humanrights@kean.edu or call 908-737-4670.

Opening ceremony for the We Are You Project was a success
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