MBU’s Latine culture club hosts campus events throughout the year, including the holiday season’s Las Posadas.
By Ana Vassey ’26
Did you know that Mary Baldwin University is home to more than 40 student clubs and organizations? Among them is Latines Unides (LU), a group that highlights and celebrates the Latine community on campus.
Founded in 2012, Latines Unides promotes Latine culture through events, meetings, and educational discussions. The organization’s mission is to ensure everyone feels heard and included — including those outside of the Latine community — while educating the MBU community about Latine culture and issues that matter most to its members.
That mission is central to the club’s executive committee, which includes President Jasmin Reyes ’26, Vice President Herson Linandres ’28, and Secretary Nelsy Aguilar ’27. Each of the student leaders proudly represents their Salvadoran heritage through their work with Latines Unides.
Reyes, a business management and marketing major who is also pursuing her Master of Business Administration at MBU, serves as vice president of the Student Government Association. Linandres is a business major, and Aguilar — who serves as vice president of the Social Work Club — is majoring in social work and criminal justice with a focus on Latine issues such as immigration.
Above: Reyes, Linandres, and Aguilar make up Latines Unides’ leadership team
For Reyes, Latines Unides holds personal meaning:
“Growing up in my Latine community, the door was unfortunately shut on me when it came to building community and having a Latine organization in high school,” Reyes said. “I am grateful for LU because it gives me the opportunity to do what I couldn’t do before. My father and grandparents have influenced me to be proud of my culture and to be proud to be the only Latine in the room — to be a voice for the community.”
Linandres shared a similar sentiment:
“Coming from a larger Latine community, I want to encourage people at MBU to express our culture and be proud of it,” Linandres said. “We want people to be leaders and to support everyone in our community, especially those wanting to take on leadership roles.”
Aguilar said her involvement in Latines Unides has been both eye-opening and meaningful:
“Being here was an eye-opening experience along with a bit of culture shock,” Aguilar said. “Although it’s been hard to adjust, I’m glad to be making a difference. I’m grateful for my roles in Latines Unides and the Social Work Club. When I’m the only person in the room representing the Latine community, I want to be known as a good representative.”
Latines Unides also plays a key role in MBU’s Office of Inclusive Excellence. Director Destiny Woodall praised the organization’s impact on campus.
“Latines Unides really does their work, especially when it comes to events that celebrate Latine culture and bring people together, including students and alumni,” Woodall said.
She added that organizations like Latines Unides strengthen MBU’s sense of belonging.
“Our students’ passion sets them apart — especially when it comes to sharing their culture, hosting events that welcome everyone, and helping people feel included, have a voice, and feel safe,” she said.
Students can learn more about Latines Unides on Instagram at @mbulatinesunides or through the Doorlist app, which lists upcoming meetings and events. All MBU community members are encouraged to attend.
The next major event for Latines Unides, the Office of Inclusive Excellence, and other cultural clubs is Las Posadas, a traditional Latine celebration of the holiday season. At MBU, the event has become a campuswide and community celebration. This year’s Las Posadas is scheduled for Dec. 4 (date and time subject to change), and all are invited to join.