Nosotras 25th Anniversary Celebration By Maria Holmes, Nosotras, Smith College

Nosotras 25th Anniversary Celebration By Maria Holmes, Nosotras, Smith College

Nosotras was formed by six Puerto Rican Smith students 25 years ago. Nosotras celebrated its 25th Anniversary last Saturday, March 31, 2006. We invited the original members and creators of Nosotras, as well as Smith Alums that were members of Nosotras. The anniversary consisted of a dinner, a panel about Nosotras, the showing of two films and a party.

The panel led by Eveth Castellanos ‘07, our current Co-Chair, Ana Hebra Flaster ’84, a founding member of Nosotras, and Johanna Gutierrez ’04 discussed the experiences of Latina students at Smith College. It also reflected on the various events and accomplishments of Nosotras over the years.

Nosotras then showed a documentary about immigration issues. Our organization asked for donations at the dinner for the Refugee Advocacy Coalition, that helps support and care for children of deported immigrants. The second film was a documentary by Gutierrez, Las Huellas Que Dejamos: Latinas at Smith College. This film followed the panel, it begins with a segment about Salome Machado, class of 1883, the first known Latina graduate from Smith. It further covered the founding of Nosotras and the struggle to get Latin American classes and space to meet on campus. Gutierrez hoped her documentary would make today’s students “go with it and make their own story.” The showing of the film was phenomenal. It shows how important students in present time should document what they are doing at their colleges, so twenty years from now it will be shown.

The banquet featured food from various countries across Latin America. The meal was prepared by the organizations’ members. By the end of dinner all the food had disappeared, everything was very delicious. The party featured a mix of salsa, merengue, reggeaton, rap, and hip-hop and we had a good turn out. At the end of the night a lot of us were exhausted, but over all we’re happy Nosotras continues strong after 25 years here at Smith.