Org. Report: Harvard Radcliffe RAZA by Diego Rentería

Org. Report: Harvard Radcliffe RAZA by Diego Rentería

This upcoming year is a promising one for Harvard-Radcliffe RAZA. Not only has RAZA continued hosting events meant to bring together students and faculty but also educate others about Chican@/Mexican culture, but RAZA has other events in the works for the year 2008 that we hope will increase membership and engage the Chican@/Mexican community at Harvard with the surrounding communities.

The H-R RAZA 35th Anniversary Dinner took place at the end of the previous academic year, reuniting RAZA members past and present, including founding members. In light of that, our alumni project is nearing its next phase. Building on the work of the previous three RAZA boards, we have a list of alumni and will contact them later in the year to establish a network between RAZA alumni and current members. This network will serve to inform alumni of what occurs at Harvard and as a conduit for alumni-undergraduate relations.

As a response to the hurricane that devastated the Mexican state of Tabasco, H-R RAZA, along with Harvard University Mexican Association and other campus groups, will host a dining hall event to raise funds for disaster relief and bring light to the current situation in Tabasco. Most students at Harvard associate the name “Tabasco” with the hot sauce; we want to change that perception, let them know of the damage the state of Tabasco encountered, and, in the process, aid in the rebuilding process. RAZA is also looking to hosting a party/fundraiser later in the semester to make up for the loss of funds recent changes to the funding process have wrought.

In the spirit of cultural awareness and cooperation, H-R RAZA is planning several events with other cultural groups on campus. Our greatest undertaking will be a Black Tie Casino Night with the South Asian Association and the Black Students Association, and we also have a “Make-Your-Own Wrap Night with the Harvard Vietnamese Association and a Solidarity Day of fasting with the Harvard Islamic Society in the works.

H-R RAZA aims to return to its political roots and raise its presence amongst campus political groups during this presidential election year through community service in the Boston area, political discussions concerning Chican@/Latin@ issues, and other avenues to “promote the objectives of Chicanos throughout the entire world, most especially at Harvard.”

En solidaridad,

Diego Rentería
Harvard-Radcliffe RAZA ECCSF Representative