Photos on the website and print materials are courtesy of Martha Chavez, David Gonzalez, Victor Kang, Mike Marsland, and Augie Rivera

LATINOS AT YALE: PAST / PRESENT / FUTURE
REUNION RECAP
New Haven, CT    April 20-22, 2012

The largest gathering of Yale Latino Alumni across graduation decades and Yale schools took place successfully for the second time ever on the weekend of April 20-22, 2012. For those of you who were unable to attend the Yale Latino Alumni Reunion (YLAR2012) this time around, here’s a play-by-play of the action:

The weekend started off big with Pulitzer Prize winner, Quiara Alegria Hudes ‘99, joining us for a Dean’s Tea. Then, attendees participated in a number of workshops led by Latino Alumni. At the Opening Reception, the Yale Latino Alumni Association (YLAA) was presented with proclamations from city and state dignitaries. That evening, current students, as well as alumni, showed off their many skills in the Talento de Familia: Yale Performance Showcase. El Amigo Felix was taken over for a few hours on more than one occasion.

On Saturday, various alumni panels addressed topics related to the Past / Present / Future of Latinos (at Yale and in general). Latino alumni and current students had a chance to connect over lunch with others from their region, while awards were presented to the founders of MEChA and Despierta Boricua and Dean Rosalinda Garcia. Many enjoyed the blasts from the past found in the Sterling Memorial Library exhibit, Old Blue No More: A History of Latinos at Yale, a collection put together to showcase over 50 years of Latinos at Yale. Current and former members of student groups came together at the cultural houses on Crown Street. All attendees fancied up for the Formal Dinner, where Thomas Saenz ‘87, MALDEF’s President and General Counsel, delivered an engaging keynote speech, Yale heavy-hitters welcomed everyone back, Shining Star and Rising Star Awards were presented and there was a running joke, that most could relate to, about “the Limo that wasn’t really a Limo at all” (i.e. CT Limo). After the fun and emotional shared meal, attendees hit the dance floor at the Afro-American Cultural Center with Marco Davis ’92 on the ones and twos.

On the final day of YLAR2012, smiles showed and tears flowed at the Memorial Ceremony held to remember and celebrate the lives of friends from the Yale Latino community that have passed. After the ceremony, civil rights leader and recent Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Dolores Huerta, motivated attendees with an impassioned charge to action and gritos of “Si Se Puede!” Energized by the words of the civil rights giant, YLAA then held an information session on how alumni can get involved with YLAA and assist with service projects as well as the continued growth of YLAA across the nation and around the world. The Reunion group’s final meal together celebrated our roots and allowed people to continue connecting or reminiscing and saying hasta pronto over fried plantains, delicious pernil, and arroz con frijoles.

The Reunion Committee is still hard at work wrapping up this year’s reunion and already beginning plans for the next one (please let us know if you would like to join the committee). A Post-Reunion Survey for YLAR2012 attendees will be out shortly and the Reunion Committee is also collecting photos, videos, quotes, presentations and any other YLAR2012-related items attendees would like to contribute. Please send contributions to: yalelatinoalumnireunion@gmail.com.

Be sure to check out the Yale Latino Alumni YouTube Channel for footage of YLAR2012 (coming very soon). Professionally-taken photos of the weekend’s events have been posted to the YLAR Facebook Group. We want to see your photos too! The Reunion Committee will keep Yale Latino Alumni and current students informed of everything YLAR-relevant via their newly-created blog: http://yalelatinoalumni.blogspot.com.

Thanks for being a part of Yale Latino history! Help continue la tradicion.

Elvira Duran ‘05 and Augie Rivera ‘84
Program Committee Co-Chairs, YLAR2012

Contact: yalelatinoalumnireunion@gmail.com
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/yalelatinoalumni
Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/yalelatinoalumnireunion/
Blog: yalelatinoalumni.blogspot.com/

To view the amazing footage from the 2009 Yale Latino Alumni Reunion, click to play the video below, produced by Eva Blanco '93, Past Co-Chair, YLAA:

Yale Latino Alumni Reunion 2009 (Short Version) courtesy of the Yale Latino Alumni Channel on YouTube.