UTRGV Leadership and Social Change hosted โCultural Chat: Coffee and Jazzโ last Thursday in the Music, Science & Learning Center on the Brownsville campus.
Students enjoyed pastries, refreshments and live music by the Jazz Combo to celebrate Black History Month.
During the event, students sat at tables and chatted with one another while facing the musicians. It was a lively scene with upbeat jazz music that inspired camaraderie.
Sara Camacho, a psychology sophomore, said she had the idea Fall 2019 during a brainstorming meeting where Leadership and Social Change planned events for different cultures.
โJazz is, like, a huge part of the black culture and I know it isnโt as showcased on, like, the media and stuff like that,โ Camacho said. โItโs something new that we donโt really, like, showcase a lot in the [Rio Grande] Valley so I just wanted to bring it up.โ
Asked what people could take away from the event she replied, โto be more inclusive of different cultures. โฆ Thereโs a lot of different cultures out there in the world, itโs not just Hispanics.โ
Vanessa Sandoval, program coordinator for Leadership and Social Change, said part of her job is to bring representation for black students on campus.
โWe want them to feel welcome,โ Sandoval said. โWe want them to feel that they are being heard and theyโre being represented here in our university whether itโs in the Brownsville or in the Edinburg campuses.โ
She said the program wanted to create an environment where students could enjoy themselves and appreciate different cultures.
โWe wanted to provide that immersion of, like, hearing something different and seeing how that has been influenced for Black History Month,โ Sandoval said.
Blanca Treviรฑo, a mass communication senior, said she chose to attend the event because she loves supporting the arts and enjoys events where culture and music are celebrated.
โHearing the music, itโs really beautiful,โ Treviรฑo said.
Asked what she took away from the event she replied, โUnity, and like I said, supporting groups. Maybe allowing yourself to be more educated on topics that you werenโt knowledgeable about before.โ
Treviรฑo said it is important for UTRGV to have events like this because it raises awareness about certain topics that people shy away from.
โAn [event] like this, rather than scaring people away from wanting to learn more, or like you know, itโs not a boring event, like, itโs really pretty to come and โฆ to be with friends and hear this kind of music,โ she said.
Francisco Chapa, a music education sophomore, played alto saxophone during the event with the UTRGV Jazz Combo.
โI feel very honored that UTRGV and this program invited us to play because I feel like no other music could have been good for this event other than jazz,โ Chapa said.
Asked why it was important to incorporate jazz music at the event, he replied, โI just think itโs very culturally appropriate. Especially, since back in the beginning of jazz, even now, it used to mainly be an African American art form, and itโs one of Americaโs truest art forms. I think it was just perfect for this event.โ
In March, the Leadership and Social Change program will host an event called, โThe Taste of Korea,โ which will familiarize students with Korean cuisine and culture.
