Riverside City College Kicks Off Hispanic Heritage Month With F.U.E.G.O. Art Exhibit
Riverside City College (RCC) kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month with the opening of the F.U.E.G.O. (Fuerza/Strength, Unidad/Unity, Esperanza,/Hope, Gente/People, Origenes/Origins) art exhibit, an empowering collection that brings together art, poetry and multimedia presentations exploring identity, belonging and resilience. The exhibit will remain on display throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, providing the RCC community with an ongoing space to reflect, connect and celebrate culture and heritage.
The kickoff event brought students, faculty and staff together to share a culturally relevant meal, listen to one another’s stories and engage in meaningful conversation. The exhibit is a collaborative effort between the RCC Library, the Ethnic Studies Department, Undocumented Student Services and the Nuestra Gente Planning Committee.
The curation reflects the shared identities of many within the RCC community who come from Latinamerican countries or heritage and have experienced the cultural shock of navigating American values, which can feel like opposites and leave a lasting impact on those exposed. The exhibit also highlights the experiences, creativity and voices of the RCC community while providing students with opportunities to learn about campus resources, understand where to find support and become informed about the connections that can guide them throughout their journey at RCC.
The energy at the kickoff event was uplifting and deeply felt. Lilia Acevedo, Educational Resource Advisor for La Casa, emphasized the importance of empowering Hispanic and Latinx voices, stories and identities.
“I'm so proud of my colleagues, Citlali and Blanca for all of their work in making this event possible. Events like this create a sense of belonging for our students, which is crucial for students' success. The students' art showcased their perspectives on the social climate impacting our communities and provided a powerful space for their voices and experiences to be seen and heard,” Acevedo said
Professor Citlalli Anahuac, Ethnic Studies Professor, opened the kickoff event by exploring the meaning of fire within the F.U.E.G.O. theme.
“It is about fire. It is about fuego,” Anahuac said.
She shared her personal journey of learning to embrace her features and identity.
She quoted Malxolm X, “Who taught you to hate yourself,” and shared how reading his autobiography at age 14 inspired her to look deeper into her roots and identity. She expressed how colonialism has historically separated communities of color to prevent unity.
Professor Anahuac said, “Immigration is not only a Latine/Chicanx issue. We stand solidarity with the Black immigrant communities, Asian Pacific Islander communities, especially those immigrants with chronic illnesses and disabilities. Especially the trans and LGBTQ Black and Brown immigrant communities.”
During her presentation, Anahuac addressed the impact of state sanctioned violence and the importance of collective healing.
Her presentation raised awareness about the many challenges that Chicanx/Latinx communities are experiencing at this time due to current immigration policies.
“Today, many of our communities continue living with fear. We calculate each drive, each visit to the market, each time we say goodbye in the morning. This is exactly why spaces like this matter. I hope this exhibit allows us to come together and celebrate who we are without shrinking ourselves and without an apology. I hope we continue to lean deeply into our cultures and our roots. For those of our ancestors who could not love themselves openly and freely, who questioned their beauty, their language. I want us to embrace our identities, our cultures, and our languages as we succeed—in and out of academia.”
She called on her ancestors and invited the audience to call on their own, stating, “We come carrying ancient wisdom passed down from our ancestors.”
Speaking directly to students, she said, “You are doing this because something deep inside you will not let you quit.”
The room joined her in chanting, “We are here and we are not leaving. We are reclaiming, becoming and proudly rooted into this land.”
The kickoff event also highlighted support for undocumented students. Laura Diaz Barbosa, Undocumented Student Allies and Dream Resource Liaison, shared resources available to undocumented students, their families and students who are children of undocumented parents. She emphasized her commitment to connecting students with support they may not otherwise have access to.
“What inspired me is that I am a product of my community,” Diaz Barbosa said. “I wanted to give back.”
In the tradition of many Latinx ancestors, the kickoff event also featured poetry shared by RCC students and faculty. Carlos Garcia read “Coyote Come Home,” a poetry piece dedicated to his grandfather. Jessica Zenteno shared a piece dedicated to her grandmother and the sacrifices made to provide a better future for her family.
Professor Rishi Gunne, who is the author of multiple shared pieces, including “Elephant,” “Veil,” “Door,” “World,” “Land” and “Memorial Transcendence,” presented works that explore youth, power and how we move forward.
A student later stood and shared what the exhibit meant to them, expressing how amazing it was that the event opened space for people to share. They described the experience as touching because it opened them to perspectives and experiences they otherwise would not know about.
The kickoff event was also livestreamed for online students who may have transitioned to online learning out of concern related to recent events surrounding immigration reform.
Event curator Blanca Garcia-Barron, RCC DEIA Librarian, reflected on the significance of bringing the exhibit to the RCC community.
“I am a little bit overwhelmed, a bit emotional,” Garcia-Barron said. “I know that these types of events are what students want to be a part of, whether it is behind the scenes, reading their poetry to an audience or having their art and words displayed. This is what it is all about, having the students be a part of it. Making it here finally is what I think makes me emotional in such a good way. It brings people together.”
The F.U.E.G.O. exhibit will remain on display through October 23, extending beyond Hispanic Heritage Month to include Undocumented Student Action Week, October 19–23. The extended dates provide additional opportunities for the RCC community to visit the exhibit and engage with the stories, experiences and perspectives it highlights.
For more information about Hispanic Heritage Month at Riverside City College, visit RCC Hispanic Heritage Month 2026.
