Latin Chill, the event where the NIU Latinx community came together for food, dancing, music and Latinx student organizations, took place Tuesday outside the Latino Center.

Not long after the event started, students, whether alone or in groups, joined the festivities on Newman Lane. Cultural organizations lined the street with colorful booths while Greek Life groups handed out ice pops and snacks. Music blared from a sound system that spread throughout the event, keeping the festivities alive.

Andrea Cruz, a senior marketing major and chair of the NIU Collegiate Association of Unreasonable Social Entrepreneurs (CAUSE), attended the event to spread awareness about CAUSE and reach out to other cultural student organizations. 

“So at this event, I’m really looking forward to promoting what NIU CAUSE is and what we do, but also getting to connect with other Latino and cultural students organizations,” Cruz said.

NIU’s Latino Resource Center, located at 515 Garden Road, is a place for Latinx students to come together to celebrate their culture while attending school. At the center students can reserve dedicated space, join the Adela de la Torre Latino Honor Society and build skills and community through the Mentoring and Engaging Through Academic Success (METAS) program.  

Alex Coronel, a senior music student and the president of NIU CAUSE, added how the Latino Center made him feel able to express himself culturally. 

“There’s a bunch of different cultural organizations here,” Coronel said. “They all do different things, but they all help to add on to, like, that feeling at home here as well.” 

One of the organizations that had a booth at the event was Ballet Folklórico Aztlán. Isis Terrazas, a senior majoring in communicative disorders, is a member of the organization, and was excited for the group to perform along with a mariachi ensemble. 

“I’m very excited to see mariachi and NIU perform. I haven’t seen them perform at all, and I’m excited to see them with our dancers,” Terrazas said. 

The thrill of dancing comes with some nerves. Mia Malave, a junior majoring in special education, spoke about how she wants the freshmen to enjoy the group’s dances the most. 

“When I see new faces and freshmen coming in . . . I want to perform the best for them,” Malave said. ”I want them to like, really look up to us.”

Latin Chill kicked off the semester with a lively celebration. Students can look forward to more cultural celebrations and activities from the Latino Resource Center, details can be found on the center’s calendar of events.