On the first Wednesday of April, Park University hosted the Latino Writers Collective. Which is a group of people sharing their life stories and their struggles that they have faced.

Silvia Byer,a professor of Modern Language, stated “The Collective has been active for at least 10/13 years under the leadership of various scholars of the Latino Community of Kansas City – we had the pleasure to have here at Park one of the founders – Jose Faus – who still is the president of the association.”

A group like this is filled with Latino youth, blue collar workers, professionals and homemakers who want an environment to voice their experience and vision to the community.

Byer stated “Asyou probably have gathered, at Park we have hosted the Latino Writers Collective for a number of years thanks to a former colleague who started inviting them. After she retired the event stopped. So, I resurrected it last year.  Therefore, this is the second year I had the pleasure to invite them.”

Here at Park we celebrate Inclusion and Diversity – what a better opportunity to have representatives of a minority and hear their voices.

“Park is a perfect venue for the Collective to present. Park’s students are already so diverse and connected with realities and identities outside the norm, because of these values, we at Park cherish welcome stories that need to be heard.” Byer stated.

“Park’s students benefit from the exposure to diverse ideas and perspectives – or perhaps can actually realize that there are more commonalities that unify us rather than separate.” Stated Byer.

Here at park things like this are a great opportunity to show an interest in other cultures and learn about people you may have not known about. The Collective has three books published and have two more on the way.