At the heart of the UofL Cultural Centerā€™sĀ °ä“Ē²Ō“Ē³¦¾±³¾¾±±š²Ō³Ł“ĒĢżis cultural resilience,Ģżmeaning skills gained from life experiences often informed by oneā€™s own background and traditions.Ā The center will host this cultural resilience training during the spring semester, its fifth time doing so, and its second year partnering with JB Speed School.Ā 

ā€œThe goal is for students to raise their consciousness of themselves and their relationship to society,ā€ said Sarah NuƱez, associate director of the Cultural Center.

NuƱez and Marcos Morales, former UofL student and current program coordinator at the Cultural Center, adaptedĀ °ä“Ē²Ō“Ē³¦¾±³¾¾±±š²Ō³Ł“ĒĢżfor a university setting from E3: ³ÉČĖÖ±²„, Excellence, and Equity, an organization that identifies five 21st century global skills needed by each person: Innovation, critical analysis, cross-cultural communication, teamwork and adaptability.

ā€œWe believe we get [those skills] from lived experiences we have every single day and even growing up,ā€ NuƱez said. ā€œWe all have these unique gifts from the lived experiences.ā€

Both NuƱez and Morales see myriad benefits for those who participate, especially a deeper understanding of and respect for themselves.

ā€œStudents get a chance to pause and look at their garden … and see the fruits that are waiting to be picked right there,ā€ Morales said. ā€œYou being able to function with your friends, and then go and interpret for your mom at the doctorā€™s, thatā€™s cross-cultural communication.ā€

Morales, who participated in the training during his senior year, personally attests to the value ofĀ Conocimiento.

ā€œIt was the very first time I brought my latinidad (variousĀ characteristics shared by Latin American individuals) into an educational space,ā€ he said. ā€œI think [Conocimiento] impacts students here in that they get to become more proud of their latinidad in higher ed, and thatā€™s a big role of our office as a whole.ā€

NuƱez adds thatĀ °ä“Ē²Ō“Ē³¦¾±³¾¾±±š²Ō³Ł“ĒĢżprepares students for their time at UofL, especially as student leaders.

ā€œThe stronger you are within yourself, the more that you have the ability to represent, to stand for and with other groups … and to build up whatever the organizationā€™s goal or mission is,ā€ said NuƱez. ā€œSo, from a student leadership perspective, I think a training like this gives them skills to step into leadership roles.ā€

Going forward, NuƱez and Morales would like to expand Conocimiento while still maintaining its personal element.

ā€œThereā€™s a lot that happens when people come together and talk; a lot comes forward,ā€ said NuƱez. ā€œEven more comes forward when theyā€™re given a space to talk, and to deep dive, and to build connections with one another.ā€

Last yearā€™s training included 45 participants. Participation levels have increased in each of the four years the training has been held. NuƱez expects that trajectory to continue, as the percentage of Latino students in the area is expected to grow by 53% through 2023.