The Johnson Center kitchen buzzed with energy as students, teachers, and staff eagerly lined up for arroz con frijoles, plátanos, pernil, and flan. The song “Danza Kuduro” played in the background, and the familiar lyrics of “Manos arriba, cintura sola” echoed through the room. Laughter filled the air, occasionally drowned out by the mix of Spanish accents from every corner. On October 9, the Hackley Hispanic and Latinx community came together for the second annual Hispanic Heritage Month Lunch Reunion, a celebration of culture and connection.
The Hispanic Heritage Month lunch brought traditional foods to the table, celebrating cultural diversity. Dishes included seasoned rice, meats, and salad. The meal was a highlight of the reunion and a delicious way to showcase Hispanic heritage through food.
In case the school-wide Kahoot and announcements were missed, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year from September 15 to October 15. These dates were specifically chosen to overlap with the Independence Days of many Latin American countries, and the month is observed to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans who have inspired so many.
This lunch provided a great opportunity for Hackley’s Hispanic community to come together in a positive way. Staff, teachers, and students connected over a variety of Latin American traditions and shared experiences. It was a chance to trade stories, laugh, and even debate about which country has the best food. Jeniffer Moroney, Managing Assistant for Operations and Campus Planning, was born in the Dominican Republic and enjoyed seeing students excited about the food and
Spanish teacher Emily DeMarchena, Director of Communications Aisha Laspina-Rodriguez, and Science Teacher Amanda Esteves-Kraus (left to right) grabbed some food together. Ms. EK shared her appreciation for the diversity in the room, stating, “For me, I really appreciate that identity unites people from all over this campus. In that room, you had people making connections who might not normally connect. Students were having lunch and talking to members of the B&G staff—something that doesn’t happen all the time. I appreciated that we had individuals from all divisions, K-12, at the lunch.”
music. She said it was uplifting to witness such a vibrant atmosphere where everyone was happy.
Upper School Science Teacher Amanda Esteves-Kraus (Ms. EK), who was mainly in charge of planning the event, received
support from Performing Arts Teacher Willie Teacher, Assistant Associate Head of School Dr. Cindy Jean, and Security Officer
Val Arvelo. They helped with tasks such as picking up the food and creating a playlist for the event. When it came to choosing the delicious Latine food for lunch, Ms. EK emphasized her desire to support local businesses while representing various Hispanic cultures.
“I wanted to get foods from a range of what we consider Hispanic/Latine cultures, and then I also really wanted to support local businesses that are owned and run by individuals who are Latine,” she said.
Students, teachers, and staff enjoyed an amazing lunch together, sharing delicious food and conversations. Ms. Moroney (far right) shared her favorite part of the event: “It was really nice to see the students coming in and seeing how excited they were about the food and the music, and just even like a group of girls playing dominoes. Everybody was doing their own thing and hanging out, but like happy, and it was really nice to be able to see this excitement in the air.”
Ms. EK sourced the food from a Mexican deli, a Chilean bakery, and a Cuban spot for flan and cubanos.
Upper School Student Body President and senior Rafael Castro, whose family is from both Puerto Rico and Costa Rica, enjoyed his time at the reunion.
“It was great for all of us to get together…having those smaller spaces with students and faculty was really important to me,” said Rafael.
For Ms. Moroney, among others, the event sparked a reflection to reconnect with her culture in small ways. She has been practicing Spanish with other staff and exploring Spanish literature and media.
“I want to celebrate my heritage every day,” she said. “I want to challenge myself a little bit.”
Through this lunch experience, Ms. EK said that while it’s important to celebrate what unites us, we should also embrace our differences. She shared her love for being in a space where people understand Latine culture.
“It’s wonderful to sit down together…play dominos and laugh,” said Ms. EK.
It’s truly amazing to see so many cultures sharing one space and enjoying themselves with significant cultural food and music.
“It’s important to take time to reconnect with my culture… to remind myself of my roots through food and music,” said Rafael.
