When it comes to making a difference, the tiniest of efforts can go a long way. Latinos in Action may be a small club at Salt Lake Community College, but its actions stand tall within the community.
“We’re volunteering just to help out, to be there and serve the community,” says Elizabeth Payan, current president of the Latinos in Action club.
The club focuses on volunteering at local schools and working with students, helping them with homework and tutoring them. Throughout the semester, the club also helps organize conferences and events and collaborates with other Latinos in Action clubs around the valley.
Payan is no stranger to the Latinos in Action club and its cause. In high school, she was invited by one of her teachers to a local conference and was introduced to Latinos in Action. She’s been active in the club ever since.
As the new president of the club this semester, she’s excited to take the club the next level by joining forces with the Latinos in Action clubs at larger universities and expanding their influence throughout the community.
“We have met with the Latinos in Action over at the [University of Utah]. We sometimes work together,” says Payan. “We want to definitely connect with the other Latinos in Action clubs that are at other universities and colleges.”
Richard Diaz, director of First Year Experience at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus, is also excited to be a part of this club. As one of the faculty advisors, he mentors the club members and helps them achieve their club goals. He believes in the club and its cause and is pleased with how the club has run since he became an advisor a year and a half ago.
“This group is pretty self-sufficient and they can do great things,” says Diaz. “They’ve shown that in the past with the caliber of the activities that they put together.”
With Club Rush approaching, Payan and her peers are looking forward to expanding their reach across the community by recruiting more members to their club.
“I definitely want to achieve getting the name out there and get the club recognized,” says Payan. “I want everyone to be included, not just Latinos.”
However, she also wants students to know that this club isn’t just all work and no play.
“We do a lot of fun activities, not just service,” says Payan. “We do socials and we’ve gone out to Lagoon and to the movies and to dinner. We do a lot of fun things. Everyone is welcome.”
Latinos in Action meet Fridays at 1 p.m. at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus in the Senate Chambers of the Student Center.
For more information visit their Facebook page www.facebook.com/slcclia
