The Latino legacy remains strong at Samohi through the colorful garments that adorned 2024’s graduation ceremony and the students that wore them.
As graduating seniors took their final walk at the Samohi Memorial Greek Theatre, some were seen wearing special stoles reading Legado Latino, representing the Samohi club of the same name. These stoles were earned by seniors who excelled in academics as well as extracurricular events put on by Legado Latino and its sub-clubs, and were given the garments at a May 24 Latino Legacy Celebration at the school.
The stole initiative began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the clothing was handed out via a line of cars, and has grown stronger ever since students returned to campus full-time.
"The school allowed them to [recognize] the extra work that they’re doing, the extracurricular work, because this is what they do after school … it’s not only the hours they put into it, but also there is a commitment … when [the community] sees the stoles, they know that this group of students has [made] a change, not only sharing their cultural background and traditions to the community and the school, but also [that] they’re a very successful group," said Legado Latino advisor and Samohi Spanish teacher Dr. Guadalupe Mireles-Toumayan.
A proud Latina in her own right, Mireles-Toumayan founded Legado Latino in order to "highlight the rich culture" of Latin America, going hand-in-hand with Samohi’s diversity and inclusion priorities.
"It’s my passion, and also I notice how students, their achievement is higher when they feel proud of their background and their identity," Mireles-Toumayan added. "I noticed that they are doing better [with] schooling, their academics [are] better once they are really focusing on all the events that we’re doing within the community."
The events are numerous throughout the year, so much so that Legado Latino spun off several clubs to handle specific gatherings. The group of Samohi students takes part in Hispanic Heritage Month (being commended this past September by Santa Monica City Council), a Day of the Dead celebration at the Santa Monica History Museum, and other holidays like Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day.
Sub-clubs were not just born of this purpose, however, as the spinoffs were created to highlight different backgrounds in Latin America, such as Orgullo Oaxaqueño (or Proud Oaxacans), Latinos Unidos, Chicanx Latinx, Los Angelitos and Cajitas con Amor.
"It teaches them the richness of each culture, not only the Latino culture, but all cultures, and they feel happy when somebody comes and brings their [background] knowledge from wherever they were raised or parents were born and bring it into [the] club," Mireles-Toumayan said.
Other sub-clubs were forged for functional reasons, like Brown Minds Matter that focuses on mental health issues, something the advisor said is "very important for them to be aware of." The club brings in speakers in the mental health world to speak on these issues, while the Samohi chapter of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán or "Chicano Student Movement of Aztlán" serves as another academic arm of Legado Latino.
By showcasing the community’s Latino heritage throughout the school year, students learned to advocate for themselves and feel more confident in their future endeavors under the experienced eye of their advisor.
"I came to this country many years ago, English was my second language and I managed to get my doctoral degree in education, so I try to be a model and an inspiration for them to see that if my teacher was able to do it, what is stopping me?" Mireles-Toumayan said. "Not only do I share with them my experiences, but also I provide them with resources that can help them reach their full potential."
