Bouquets of fresh flowers and vibrant ribbon braids drew students to the Student Association for Latin American Studies Care Week booth Feb. 20, where organizers created a space to celebrate Latin American culture.
Student officers and volunteers wove bright silk ribbons into students’ braids as others gathered nearby to build flower bouquets.
The event was one of many held during Brigham Young University's Care Week, a campus-wide effort to promote compassion and community.
“We wanted this to be a time for students to make something beautiful and learn about other cultures,” Elena Aguirre, SALAS social media and publicity chair, said.
Months before Care Week, SALAS vice president Mica Cors dreamed of bringing traditional ribbon braiding to campus.
During the event, she watched students slow down, and often stop completely, when they noticed the table overflowing with bright flowers and colorful ribbons.
“I hope people will see there is so much beauty in this culture,” Cors said. “It’s cool to see students who don’t have any other connections to Latin American culture love the way their hair looks, and then represent that culture when they walk around campus and wear their braids.”
While students assembled flower bouquets and waited for their turn for ribbon braids, student leaders encouraged visitors to donate any amount to the American Civil Liberties Union.
The ACLU is a nonprofit organization that advocates for individual rights and freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, and was selected by SALAS as a partner because of its work supporting immigrant communities and equal protection under the law.
Club leaders said the opportunity to donate aligned with Care Week’s emphasis on compassion while highlighting issues that affect many Latin American communities.
“I want to give back to the communities that have helped me so much, and the communities that make America what it is," Joshua Smith, a volunteer, said.
Smith is a Spanish minor at BYU and served a mission in Colombia.
“Right now is an inflection point in American history, and it can change for the better,” Smith said.
Throughout the afternoon, the line rarely shortened as students stopped to admire the bright ribbons, pick out flowers and join the celebration.
Organizers said the energy at the booth turned a simple activity into a moment of connection, culture and care during a busy week on campus.
“At BYU, we pride ourselves on service to the world, and it's beautiful to see this culture being celebrated and loved,” Cors said.
By the end of the week, SALAS officials estimated it distributed more than 300 flower bouquets, braided more than 50 heads of hair and raised between $800 and $1,000 for the ACLU of Utah.
Cors noted that BYU’s many returned missionaries with ties to Latin America participated and encouraged students to continue learning from the cultures they experienced abroad.
“As we become educated, we become compassionate,” Cors said. “God gave you the opportunity to love those people on your mission. It shouldn’t stop once you come back.”