Munguia Wellman has worked with the youth of Nosotros to complete mosaic art projects celebrating Hispanic culture and taken them on a Fourth of July field trip to a St. Louis Cardinals game, where they received a guided tour of the dugout and a pep talk on staying in school. The trip also included a bicultural lesson on the celebration of Independence Day in the United States and Mexico. I want to make sure they understand that there is great value in being bicultural and bilingual rather than being encouraged to hide their Hispanic heritage as I was when I was growing up. Working with fellow Hispanic student Jeannette Adames, also a Chavez Scholarship recipient, Munguia Wellman formed the campus Nosotros organization as a focal point for anyone in the St. Louis community with an interest in Hispanic issues. The group includes many non-Hispanic students from the social work school, as well as students from other local universities and community organizations.
New members are always welcome.
One of the primary objectives for Nosotros is to encourage greater cohesion and solidarity among Hispanic organizations scattered across the metro region, including the several Hispanic-interest student groups on campus. Munguia Wellman also is building a network of Hispanic leaders in the St. Louis community and looking to involve more of these leaders in joint projects to promote partnership and unity among local Hispanics. Through a Hispanic Leaders Group, Munguia Wellman met Dave Uhler of the National Park Service at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, who asked her to help coordinate a Hispanic Employment Council Conference held here last fall. Munguia Wellman is now working with Sister Alicia Alvarado, coordinator of Hispanic Ministry for the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis, to foster joint projects among three Hispanic parishes in the region, and on a grassroots campaign to support unionization efforts by migrant farm workers. Many are migrants passing through, but some come here for jobs and are staying.