The University is home to more than 40,000 students from all over the country and around the globe. It nourishes the diversity with several cultural houses on campus.

La Casa Cultural Latina has found a way to provide students with their niche.

La Casa was founded in 1974 by students who were looking for a home away from home.

Latino students expressed their concerns about their representation on campus and soon thereafter found their voices.

La Casa switched its location to Nevada Street in 1995 from its original location on Chalmers Street, which is now the Department of Latino Studies. It still contains murals painted by students when the house was first created.

La Casa is a place where all students are welcomed with open arms.

Providing a family-like feel, tutoring, food and various other programs, La Casa has succeeded in creating a nurturing and safe environment for all students.

Angelica Moreno, senior in Education, is a student employee at La Casa. She said she couldn’t agree more with the great environment that vibrates at the house.

“La Casa offers the chance to be a student, but (it is) also a safe place. It’s a bridge and a stepping-stone to becoming a bigger part of this campus,” she said.

Lizette V. Rivera, director of La Casa, highlighted all that the house has to offer.

“Even though I am the new director this year, I am not new to La Casa,” Rivera said.

Rivera, who attended the University from 1994 to 1998 and was a frequent visitor at the house, feels a special connection to her Latino roots and culture.

She explained what makes the house unique.

“At La Casa, students can come to meet other Latino students, and share and learn from each other,” she said.

Many students face the transition from a primarily Latino high school into a larger college environment with new faces at every corner.

Jonathan Brito, senior in LAS and intern at La Casa, said he feels that La Casa helped make new experiences easier to cope with.

“We’ve formulated a sense of family and security here, and we are represented by the community,” he said.

The house offers multiple programs. Every month there is a social and a dinner dialogue, which includes free food and drinks and a chance for students to grow professionally and personally.

Every Thursday there is a lunch, and a speaker is brought in to talk about current issues in the community.

La Casa has previously hosted salsa dancing events, socials, game nights, karaoke and open-mic nights.

Twice a week there is a program targeted at freshmen and sophomores that provides students with tutoring and scheduling.

La Casa also gives back to the community with a pen pals program alongside local elementary schools and gift-wrapping during the holidays.

It boasts many other opportunities, such as in-house cooking, talent shows, counselors and therapists, McKinley Health Center representatives and a place for studying or just hanging out.

If there is a program or activity that students feel should be included in the house, they are free to express their opinions. Brito explained how easy it is to have his voice heard.

“If you don’t find what you’re trying to do here, you can create it,” Brito said.

Non-Latino students are also welcome at La Casa Cultural Latina. The organization is multicultural, and students can embrace the cultural environment and learn more about the Latino culture.

“Students need to know that at La Casa it’s okay for them to come and ask for help if they need it,” Rivera said.

“La Casa is for the students — it’s created out of their voices and above all else, we carry that mission.”