On Thursday, Sept. 26, the streets of DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus were once again filled with the echoes of live music as the Latinx Cultural Center hosted its fourth iteration of Feria.
The promise of salsa lessons, handcrafted goods, free traditional food and even a mechanical shark had students lined up around the Welcome Center parking lot, at 2400 N. Sheffield Ave., as the sun began to set.
Attendees were greeted by a multitude of shops set up along the perimeter of the event. From jewelry and tote bags to planters and pieces of art, local vendors — many of them DePaul students — put their best work on display.
Representing her family’s business, Azul, Amber Rosales brought jewelry from Jalisco, Puebla, Oaxaca and Chiapas, México to DePaul.
For Rosales, it’s especially important to bring her items to Chicago for the people who are unable to go to México.
“We kind of bring it here for them,” Rosales said.
As people shopped and dined, EnClave Dance’s bachata team, a Latine dance oriented group, took to the floor. Donning sparkling black and red costumes, they evoked cheers and clapping with their choreography to “Reina De Mentiras” by Fraimin Castle.
Andrew Rodríguez, director of EnClave Dance’s bachata and salsa teams, finds pride in being able to spread his Mexican culture.
“What better way to bring people together here today as a community than through cultural dances,” Rodríguez said.
Once their performance concluded, they invited onlookers to join in on the fun, conducting a step-by-step dance lesson. Dozens joined in, and after a few minutes they were ready to use their newfound rhythm to dance to Chicago Latin Groove, a Chicago-based band, who took center stage.
Speaking to the importance of showcasing Latin music to students, Lindy Benítez, one of the group’s singers, wanted to inspire those in attendance.
“We hope that the music ignites the same amount of love and passion that we have for this, the music and the culture. We hope that seeing the performance helps bring some of that out,” Benítez said.
Over the next two hours, the tropical music band did just that. Groups of people, individuals and even members of EnClave spun the night away.
Kaelani Mayernik, a DePaul junior student, said it was amazing to dance with her friends while getting more insight into her Ecuadorian culture, especially in the current political climate.
“I have always been raised and reared in a world that has celebrated difference and yearned to include everybody, and seeing that framework being destroyed is more than disheartening to me,” Mayernik said.
“DePaul throwing intentional events to ensure we’re celebrated, especially during Hispanic Heritage Month, means everything to me,” she added.
Comments like these inspire Flor Reza, the Latinx Cultural Center’s program manager, in keeping Feria on the calendar every year.
“There is a very big Latino population at DePaul, so it’s really important to highlight them and to give them an opportunity to form community,” Reza said. “It can feel really daunting. It can be really difficult, feeling like you’re the only one in a predominantly white institution.”
Reza spent the bulk of the summer planning the event, hiring vendors and taking steps to ensure that the night went off without a hitch.
When the music faded and the crowd dispersed, the community spirit of Feria lingered on campus, as students continued to mingle.
Mayernik said she doesn’t often come in contact with other people from South America in Chicago, so she was happy to meet three other Ecuadorians at the celebration.
“It’s so awesome to connect with people who are literally from the same town as I am at my university. I loved it,” Mayernik said.
