Every year across the nation, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15. As a part of celebrating the Latino culture within the Kean community, the Human Rights Institute (HRI) has invited individuals to the We Are You Project.

The We Are You Project is in international initiative exploration of 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, Hispanic heritage is celebrated.

On September 15, 2015, the HRI held an art exhibit to launch the campaign. Following that, on Thursday, October 8, 2015, HRI hosted a Poetry Reading. Highlighting different mediums of creative expression, each event augments the last. Alan Britt, Chair of the We Are You Project, explains how the events are tied together. He states, “…many of these poems have been inspired directly or indirectly by some of the painting[s].”

Thematically, the We Are You Project is focused on five central notions: 1) Latino immigration, 2) the “Latinization” of America, 3) anti-Latino backlash, 4) the rise of Pan-Latino transculturalism and 5) the investigation of diverse Latino identities emerging contemporarily.  Each of these ideas are critical pieces of the campaign and its underlying message.

Fatizenebu Oyibo, sophomore psychology major, touched on the fifth point with her poem Civilized. As a precursor to her piece, she explained how the identities of those within immigrant culture are shifting in nature. She states, “…I’m starting to notice that immigrants are beginning to change, to conform to the Americans around them, [and my piece is about that].”

Fatizenebu Oyibo speaks to the crowd 
Photo courtesy of the Human Rights Institute

On the day of the event, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., people raised their voices for social justice and immigration. Amara Riccio, junior recreation administration major, explained why she chose to participate, “I am a traumatic brain injury survivor, and since my injury, creativity and writing has helped me a lot. After seeing the opening reception, I was inspired so I went home and wrote this poem.”

Amara Riccio performs her poem for the crowd
Photo courtesy of the Human Rights Institute

The event also featured poems from several other students including Kayla Fiscina, Helena Jones and Shawn Lawson Jr. Understanding that the campaign reaches far beyond Hispanic heritage and into the realm of cultural diversity, it touches on topics such as Sandra Bland, immigration and body image.

In addition to the student presence, the night featured poems from notorious authors such as Alan Britt, Mike Foldes, George Nelson Preston and Alex LimaDay Laborers. Additionally, attendees were able to hear poems by Duda Penteado, Cofounder of the We Are You Project, and Bina Sarkar Ellias, Founder, Editor, Designer and Publisher of international magazine Gallerie. While Penteado was unable to attend, Ellias flew from India to share her sentiments. She states, “I write about the diversity in New York and the excellence that has emerged from this diversity.”

Poetry has been an integral part of the initiative since it began. Through poetry, people have the unique ability to express themselves freely. They can approach controversy, express opinions, share truths, ect.

Eliazar Hernandez, junior English major, chose this opportunity to share his story and poem. He began by explaining how his parents traveled to America at a young age and consequently, he was the first generation to be born in America. One of four boys, money was always at the forefront of the family’s mind. He states, “before I knew I was Mexican, I knew I was poor.” In a short stanza about his mother entitled Mexicans in Macy’s, he allowed the crowd to peer into his life through his poetry.

Since it began, the We Are You Project exhibit at Kean University has had increasing popular. With about 19 class requests for tours in just the first week, the campaign is thriving. At Kean University, the presence of each culture speaks to the larger diversity of the nation, country and community. This exhibit is a reminder that the world is much larger than individuals and their small communities.

Elizabeth Turchi, Director of HRI, states, “words are very powerful in how we craft our sentences and express ourselves…but they mostly matter in how we speak up about each other”.

Elizabeth Turchi speaks to the crowd
Photo courtesy of the Human Rights Institute

The project serves to increase awareness, incite dialogue and inspire action. Additionally, they challenge people to embrace diversity and combat prejudices. The exhibit will officially end in January of 2016. For a full list of We Are You Project artists, news and events, click here. More information about the Human Rights Institute at Kean University can be found by emailing humanrights@kean.edu or calling 908-737-4670.

The We Are You Project was a great success 
Photo courtesy of the Human Rights Institute