To close out the University’s Walk the Walk Week celebrations, Notre Dame hosted Somos ND: Cafecito Con Conciencia (We are ND: Coffee With Purpose) on the morning of Friday, January 31, at the Institute for Latino Studies’ Scholars Lounge. The gathering welcomed students, faculty, and staff for meaningful conversation, connection, and reflection—offering an opportunity to explore pathways to unity in alignment with Notre Dame’s mission.
As attendees enjoyed coffee, refreshments, and pastries made by Sinai Vespie, Executive Pastry Chef at University of Notre Dame, attendees engaged in small-group discussion guided by questions rooted in the mission of Walk the Walk Week. This week-long series of events invited everyone on campus to reflect on how we––as individuals and as a community––can help make Notre Dame more inclusive and welcoming.
The cafecito was also part of the year-long Somos ND campaign, which highlights Latino contributions at Notre Dame. The event was led by Nydia Morales-Soto, Assistant Director at the Eck Institute for Global Health and chair of the Somos ND committee. Following her opening remarks, Professors Marisel Moreno and Francisco Robles offered brief reflections on the legacy of leaders like Arturo Alfonso Schomburg and César Chávez––figures who helped bring visibility to Afro-Latino history and fought for justice and dignity in the Latino community. Their stories helped spark honest conversations among the small groups.
After discussion, the thirty participants came back together to share their takeaways. The guiding question, “How can we acknowledge our differences to help create a more inclusive and beloved community?” remained at the center of the dialogue, grounded in the University’s Catholic identity and the call to love thy neighbor.
This event served as both a call to action and a reminder that lasting change requires continuous effort and a collective commitment to making a more inclusive Notre Dame.