When students first walk through the doors of an Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) general body meeting, they can expect welcoming, friendly people to greet them, popular Latinx music, and lots of photos.
The vibes are high as friends catch up with one another, make new connections and relax in a room full of familiar faces.
According to their Engage, ALPFA creates “opportunities, adds value, builds relationships for its members, the community and its business partners while expanding Latino leadership in the global workforce.”
ALPFA is not limited to only those with a Latinx background; it is open to anyone interested in joining a tight-knit community of motivated students.
During their October general body meeting, Adrian Castro, a senior finance and technology major and ALPFA president, recapped the club’s accomplishments that took place during the month. Some include a company visit in New York City, a pumpkin picking event, and a raffle to win an iPad. After announcements, members sang and performed karaoke, singing songs like “Baby” by Justin Bieber and “One Dance” by Drake.
Vasti Valenzuela, a sophomore speech language pathology and psychology major, joined ALPFA this semester and is part of the marketing committee. She said the energy at ALPFA makes her feel like she’s truly at home.
“It’s just such a big family, like, everyone’s always there for each other, supporting each other. If you ever need anything, we’re all there for each other,” Valenzuela said.
Like Valenzuela, Castro joined ALPFA during his sophomore year. He has worked his way up the ranks, serving as the director of fundraising, vice president, and, now the chapter’s current president.
“Before, I wasn’t as extroverted, but ALPFA really expanded my communication and networking skills,” Castro said. “It has prepared me to go into the real workforce and take a lot of skills that could be applicable to fintech or finance, which is very competitive.”
Lucas Brasil, a senior finance and accounting major, joined ALPFA during his sophomore year too. Since then, he has been vice president, president, and now oversees the general operations of the chapter.
For him, the most rewarding part of being ALPFA is the community they have built.
“We call ourselves the ALPFAMILIA and we put that out there,” Brasil said. “We inspire one another, especially within this market, this economy, to be there for one another and help each other reach their goals.”
Brasil said ALPFA has opened a lot of doors for him.
“I was one of those students that would come to school, go home, and not really understand why I’m going to campus,” Brasil said. “I really found purpose and what I need to do, especially growing in my professional career.”
Each summer, ALPFA HQ hosts a convention for all national chapters to attend for broader networking sessions, panels, and outreach. This past summer, the SHU ALPFA members who attended the ALPFA Convention in Las Vegas, pulled in “over 25 interviews and 15 jobs on the spot,” Brasil said.
Wendy Cardona, a senior business administration, marketing, and graphic design major, joined ALPFA in February 2024. Her time in the organization inspired her to join their executive board as the community outreach chair.
Cardona’s favorite event was the pumpkin picking event ALPFA hosted last month.
“I feel like we got so close together, even with people we didn’t really know, because we want to include as many people as we can,” Cardona said.
Creating such a diverse and inspired community, Cardona has seen a great change in her individual growth.
“Since joining ALPFA, I think the people that I surround myself with now have completely changed my perspective of a lot of things,” Cardona said. “They’ve made me a more organized and disciplined person because they have big goals for themselves, which inspires me to have that same mindset.”
Encouraging community alongside professional development, ALPFA is an invaluable tool for Latinx students and beyond.
Keira Bala is a videographer for The Setonian’s Photography section. She can be reached at keira.bala@student.shu.edu.
