Mar 18, 2025
As part of its community engagement and service efforts, UNAM Chicago conducted a Spanish course at Centro Romero to strengthen the linguistic skills of participants in the Youth Leadership and Learning Program, aimed at high school students.
The program, developed by Centro Romero—an organization founded by Salvadoran immigrants that supports migrants from across Latin America—seeks to equip participants with leadership skills to empower their communities.
Young participants, aged 14 to 18, were heritage Spanish speakers of Mexican, Ecuadorian, and Guatemalan descent, including DACA students. Through the course, they reinforced their Spanish language skills, strengthened their identity as Spanish speakers, and deepened their connection to their cultural roots.
Centro Romero was founded through the volunteer efforts of Salvadoran immigrants who arrived in Chicago in the early 1980s. In recognition of its work supporting migrant communities, it was recognized with the prestigious Alfonso García Robles Award in 2023, an honor granted annually by UNAM to individuals and organizations making significant contributions in this field.
Among the course activities, virtual Spanish-English exchange sessions were organized with students from CCH-Vallejo at UNAM. These sessions not only provided an engaging and practical way for Centro Romero students to practice Spanish but also fostered binational and bicultural connections beyond language.
