A small group of students and staff members of varying Latino backgrounds sits in a circle, passing a Guatemalan-made hackey sack to whoever wishes to speak.

Latino Student Association adviser Carmen Rudin said she feels proud of the 10 students who showed up second hour Nov. 23 to C350 for a full class period of discussion about identity and plans for the group at the first meeting of the year.

“The kids that came today are the kids that are determined to make a difference in the student community,” Rudin said. “They want to get rid of all the stereotypes that everyone has about Latino students.”

One of these stereotypes, according to sophomore and second-year group member Deisy Jimenez, involves ignorance of what it means to be Latino.

“People have the stereotype that if you’re Latino, you’re Mexican,” Jimenez said.

Daniel Perez, the other adviser for the Latino Student Association, said identity formed a major part of the conversation.

“I wanted to get a sense of who was in the room, where everybody was coming from, for everyone to share openly how they themselves identify,” Perez said.

At the meeting, Jimenez said she still considers herself completely Mexican, despite living in the United States for over 11 years.

“I identify as full Mexican because I was born in Mexico, and moved to the U.S. at age four,” Jimenez said.

Rudin said she believes the day-to-day experience of many Latino students influences their nationality.

“I think that has something to do with the way they’re raised,” Rudin said. “They go home and everything changes. Their family, many of their friends are born in Latin American countries.”

Perez said he feels able to draw upon his personal experience as a Latino student at Park in facilitating group discussion.

“Bicultural, binational, bilingual, multiracial — I bring that perspective and a lived experience, both as a documented and undocumented immigrant,” Perez said.

Rudin said many group members hope to focus on promoting diversity in the school setting throughout the rest of the year, but specific planning will not take place until the second meeting.

With organizational and logistical issues with the Latino Student Association in past years, Perez said he wanted to help facilitate and strengthen the group.

“My hope is that we find our footing, that we find people who are committed to shaping and driving this group,” Perez said.

Sophomore Antonio Reyes said although he missed the first meeting, he plans to attend the next meeting after hearing about noticeable improvements in the group from his friends.

“I will try it out to see what it it’s like,” Reyes said.

Rudin said although she felt happy to see serious discussion among the 10 students who showed up to the first meeting, she hopes to see attendance increase in the future.

“I would like to see at least 30 kids in this group, because I’m sure there are more,” Rudin said.

Rudin said she encourages all students born in a Latin American country or who have a parent from a Latin American country to join the group.

“This is a safe place to connect with their culture or their parents’ culture to discuss issues and get help and advice from (their) own friends, in English or Spanish,” Rudin said.

The next meeting takes place third hour Dec. 7 in C350.