Davenport University was one of the sponsors of this month's Fiesta Week in Holland. This is the 60th anniversary of the organizing group, the Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP). The events that were held from July 15 -21 included music, performances, discussions and an artisan's market.

The Fiesta's symposium addressed how to make "meaningful change for the future where Latinos live, learn, earn and play.

Davenport has increased its attention on the Latino community with its Casa Latina degree programs. The groundbreaking initiative, launched this year, leads to professional proficiency in English and Spanish in careers in business, technology, health care, urban education and the sciences.

Executive Director of Casa Latina Carlos Sanchez said the program is designed to meet Latinos where they are and support them in the way they need.

"Being present at community events like Fiesta gives us an opportunity to expose more people to Casa Latina and the availability of our online bilingual degrees," said Sanchez. "We are working to knock down barriers for Latinos by offering scholarships, and by considering work and education credits students have received inside or outside of the U.S."

Director of Marketing and Recruitment for Casa Latina AlejandraGuillén was also at the Fiesta, not only to spread the word about the program, but also to have some fun.

"The event was filled with live music, an artisan mercado, activities for all age groups and much more," said Guillén. "It was a wonderful opportunity for attendees to immerse themselves in authentic Latino culture, discover valuable community resources and indulge in delicious food."

The LAUP Fiesta is one of the longest-running events in West Michigan, drawing more than 20,000 attendees each year.

Casa Latina at Davenport is enrolling students now for classes starting in the fall.

Learn more about Casa Latina at Davenport University here.

Learn more about LAUP here.

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