College can be daunting for many students with its fast-paced environment and hectic schedules. Joining a club where students can meet like-minded people with similar interests, lifestyles or cultures can bring some much-needed comfort.
That is precisely what the Latinx Club at Moorpark College intends to do. This club holds various events every month for students to join and is committed to building a place where everyone feels welcome.
Rachel Gubner, a second-year psychology major and one of the club’s co-presidents, stressed the importance of the community that the club wants to build.
“We hope to make a safe environment and we want everyone to feel welcomed. We want others to become aware of Latinx culture and have a fun time, meet new people,” said Gubner.
In October 2023, the Latinx Club held a pumpkin painting event in collaboration with the Black Student Union, allowing students to connect with people outside their usual club.
The club began last year and was founded by Kaitlyn Torres and Valeria Cueba. Monica Ambriz and Gubner now run the club as co-presidents.
The club’s co-president, Ambriz, a second-year psychology major, said that she decided to join Moorpark’s Latinx Club for many reasons.
“I’m a first-gen and I was in Latino Connection Club in high school. Last year was my first year of college and it was nice to have that community again,” Ambriz said.
Clubs have long been a way of bringing people together. They facilitate long-lasting friendships, help students network and create a safe space to learn and grow. Clubs form friendships and help students develop skills to help people more confidently and effectively interact with others.
Being a part of a club can also help expand knowledge for future careers, bringing in skills that may not be gained in the usual course curriculum.
“[The club] can be interwoven with psychology because of the things we learn, and it helps create a safe space for people outside the club,” said Gubner.
The club has many events, from movie nights to field trips and even dances like the “Winter Bash” which was held in the fall semester on Dec. 7, 2023.
The club also has a span of events planned for this spring semester, one recently taking place on Feb. 13, 2024. The Valentine’s Day activity included writing letters to someone special, crafts, candies and stickers.
On Mar. 26, 2024, at 11:30 am, the club is gearing up to host the “MC Fiesta” that includes food and activities for people to join in on, encouraging everyone to attend and have fun.
More details about the club’s upcoming events can be found on their Instagram page. They are open to anyone interested in learning more about the Latinx community.
The Latinx Club is currently looking for a secretary. For more information or to sign up, head to the club’s Google form.
