YLAN connects Latinx and non-Latinx alumni through a shared commitment to equity, community engagement, and cultural celebration via events focused on education, mentoring, and service.
Tell the "why" around your group—why were you created?
YLAN was created to serve as a platform and conduit to engage our Latinx and non-Latinx alumni among themselves, with Yale, and their local communities. Equity, empathy, and justice are our basic values.
What is the purpose and impact of the group?
Our purpose is to foster networking and community engagement amongst Latinx alumni and current students. To that end, we host a variety of social, cultural, educational, mentoring, volunteer, and family outing events- including Yale Day of Service, focused on education, mentoring, and community development.
Are there any key moments in the history of your group?
Our keystone events are the holiday brunch, the Summer Sendoff, and our annual Day of Service in which we partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to help educate Littles and their Bigs/Parents on the college application process. We are also currently working on an “Alumni Tea” series- modeled after HoC teas and La Casa’s Cenas a Las Seis.
What are your future aspirations for your group?
In the future, we hope to build upon the grassroots efforts we’ve made to engage our community. Specifically, we are planning to target regional communities that currently have low Yale Latino organizational engagement- including Chicago and Texas- by replicating some of the events we’ve established with other popular regional groups, like LA and NY.
Learn more about Yale Latino Alumni Network and other Shared Interest Groups.
