Rooted in culture, growing in community: Raíces kicks off the semester with record growth

The energy was vibrant and the mission was clear as Raíces, Lipscomb University’s Latino and Hispanic student organization, gathered in the Office of Intercultural Development (OID) to launch the new semester.

The introductory kickoff event, held from 3 to 5 p.m., began with a formal presentation from the club’s leadership introducing the new officer board and laying out their vision for the coming months. For Raíces President Joseph Llerena, a senior data analytics major, the afternoon was a celebration of how far the organization has come since its inception in the spring of 2021.

“Today was our first event of the semester,” Joseph said. “It’s to talk about Raíces, what it’s mainly about, its mission, and to introduce our officers for the semester.”

Once the officer presentations concluded, the OID space shifted into a lively social hour centered around community and comfort food. Students lined up for a catered spread from local favorite Baja Burrito, before filling the room with laughter, chatter and connection.

Creating an approachable environment where students can let their guard down is exactly why officers like Josue Rivas, a sophomore biology education major and the club’s outreach coordinator, stepped into leadership.

“I’m just very social. I love to talk,” Rivas shared, reflecting on how the previous president nudged him into the role. “He low-key kind of made a decision for me, but it was worth it because it’s fun. I love talking to people and I love being a community together.”

For Rivas, the kickoff afternoon is essential for breaking the ice for students who might otherwise stay on the sidelines.

“All the Hispanic kids on campus, they’d be scared to go make friends and stuff,” Rivas said. “It’s like a place where they can all congregate and get to know one another and see other people that they can relate to.”

At its core, Raíces which translates to “roots” in Spanish, is designed to be a vibrant cultural hub on campus where heritage is celebrated.

“What Raíces is all about at Lipscomb is they’re a Latino Hispanic organization that showcases their culture and heritage through authentic food, dancing, music and plenty of fun activities,” Joseph explained.

However, the club’s vision extends far beyond a single demographic. Leadership emphasizes that the organization is a welcoming space for anyone looking to learn, share and connect.

“Raíces is open to everybody on campus,” Joseph added. “So anybody can join in and have all the fun with us. The main goal is to bring people together.”

A major focus for Raíces this year is intersectionality and collaboration. Joseph highlighted a desire to build stronger bridges with Lipscomb’s other affinity groups, creating a unified network of student culture.

“The goal is to also bring in other cultures from the other affinity clubs, right? Like the Asian American Student Association, the Black Student Association or African Student Association,” Joseph said. “[We want] to bring together and to be connected with each other, through our culture and heritage.”

Since its founding in 2021, Raíces has experienced a massive surge in student interest. What started as a foundational effort has exploded into a major campus presence, boasting over 100 members in their group chat this semester alone.

Joseph attributes much of this growth to high-profile campus collaborations, particularly during Hispanic Heritage Month. The club frequently partners with Student Life and the OID, the very space that hosted the afternoon’s kickoff for major traditions like Fall Fiesta.

Looking ahead, students can expect to see Raíces deeply involved across campus this autumn, starting with a special Hispanic Heritage Month Art Gallery in collaboration with the OID.

With a record-breaking turnout, Raíces hopes to prove that its roots on Lipscomb’s campus are growing deeper than ever.

Featured Image taken by Harold Espinoza Lopez