The Latinx community at UConn is supported by a number of different entities, all of them working closer than ever to provide one solid support network.<\/p>\n
El Instituto<\/a> is UConn\u2019s multidisciplinary Latin American research and teaching institute, with a deep commitment to service in the community and to state and national governments. The Puerto Rican\/Latin American Cultural Center (PRLACC)<\/a> provides a second home for Latinx students on the Storrs campus while La Comunidad Intelectual (LCI<\/a>) is a living\/learning community with a mission to nurture a sense of community and welcoming space for Latinx students and those interested in the issues that affect the Latin American and Caribbean communities.<\/p>\n \u201cOur Latinx students, many of the being first-generation college students, bring a lot of responsibilities to campus in that many of them have already had to provide for their families,\u201d says Fany Hanon, the director of PRLACC. \u201cBut, in my opinion, of the things that they bring to the table over the years is their cultural wealth \u2013 the languages they speak, their social capital. They are bringing a lot to this university and that is what we focus on with them. We want everyone to see that our Latinx students do not come with a deficit model, but a cultural wealth model.\u201d<\/p>\n UConn\u2019s Latinx community is particularly in the spotlight now with the celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15.<\/p>\n