Andean students bring their voice to the Latin@ Coalition

This July at Penn’s Landing, College seniors Andrea Guerrero and Juan Cabrera realized several things: they had both been in college for three years, they were both Ecuadorian and they had never met.

Cabrera told Guerrero he was starting a club for those who culturally identify with the area of the former Inca Empire in South America — known as the Andean region — which includes Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. He noticed groups on campus for students of different Latin American backgrounds such as Mexican, Dominican and Cuban. He felt that Andeans were missing this space to connect and socialize. 

He’d only encountered one other Ecuadorian in his three years at Penn, not to mention only enough Andeans “to count on [his] hands." He was ready to change that, and Guerrero was on board.

“There was never a way to get all of us together,” Cabrera said. “I feel like this could be one of those ways."

Cabrera submitted an application to the Latin@ Coalition, the umbrella group that represents and funds Penn’s Latino cultural organizations. Wharton junior and funding chair of the Latin@ Coalition Ivan Sanchez agreed that this “extra voice” would be a worthwhile addition to Penn’s Latin@ community. He was excited to advise the group financially and help with logistics for its plans.

Guerrero and Cabrera, along with a Peruvian sophomore and junior, are the group’s first board members. The name Andean Representation is a nod to the Andean culture's newfound voice on Penn’s campus.

This year, the club will hold academic, social and cultural events specific to Andean traditions; however, they hope to market their events to people of other backgrounds too. Their first event will be the Chicha and Chill social on Sept. 28, in which participants will sample and learn the history of chicha, a smoothie-like Andean drink made with berries. 

The group also hopes to hold academic gatherings on the history of the Inca Empire, in addition to what Cabrera calls “light and fun” events such as Shakira karaoke. 

“She’s basically our claim to fame because she’s from Colombia,” he said.

The club recruited its first members, such as College freshman Christopher Proano, at the Latin@ Coalition’s recent open house event. He and Guerrero formed a connection right away, as their parents were both from the same region of Ecuador. Proano even ended up signing people up at the club’s booth. 

“It is a small community,” Proano said, “so banding together would be a good thing."

The Andean Representation’s next step is to continue to publicize and grow as a group. Guerrero garnered over 200 likes on the club’s Facebook page in two days, for her a promising sign.

As Guerrero and Cabrera are both seniors, they must consider the future of their club. Cabrera takes pride in the way his group brought a new cultural perspective to Penn.

"I want to inspire people to make their own groups if they feel like their voices aren’t being heard," he said. 

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