This summer, ILS launched the full breath of the Cross Cultural Leadership Program in the city of South Bend. Three students shared a home near campus and learned to grocery shop, cook, clean, and live independently as they rode their bikes or the city bus to work for eight weeks. Another three students lived in their own apartments or on campus. All seven students participated in weekend enrichment activities with their instructor, Dr. Jessala Grijalva and Alumni Mentor Susan Galan. Through family style dinners, local shows, travel days to Elkhart, Indiana Beach Dunes, and Chicago, the summer flew by!
The CCLP South Bend students began their internships. Nico Jones worked with Dr. Lopez at Beacon Health System and Jesusa Rivera at Proteus, splitting his time between assisting patient care in the clinic and delivering community workshops on stroke awareness and heat safety. Meanwhile, Henry Smith and Sbeydi Ponce Duarte were lab assistants in the ND Wero (wearable robotics) lab led by ILS Faculty Fellow & Assistant Professor of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering Edgar Bolivar Nieto. Sbeydi presented her research at the ND Undergraduate Research Symposium (pictured below). Henry also led workshops at Clay High School for the Migrant Education and English Language Learners summer camps run by the South Bend Community School Corporation. Daniella Martinez gained hands-on experience working with clients seeking services to settle family disputes or process immigration applications at Monterrosa Law Group. Connor Kaufmann supported case reviews at the Notre Dame Law Exoneration Clinic; a project led by ILS Faculty Fellow and ND Law Professor Jimmy Gurule. Mireya Monterossa interned with Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership, supporting Catholic social action initiatives in Chicago.
Together with CCLP Chicago, the South Bend students immersed themselves in Mexican cultural experiences by attending a “Jaripeo” in Plymouth, Indiana (pictured) and tasting cuisine in the Pilsen and La Villita neighborhoods of Chicago. CCLP South Bend and Chicago students immersed themselves in Puerto Rican culture at the annual festival in Humboldt Park. These enriching experiences outside of their usual day-to-day activities at work and home, taught students how Latino communities thrive in two states. CCLP students developed cultural competencies, expanded their academic understanding of Latino communities, and deepened personal and professional connections with each other, that will all last a lifetime.