Over fall break, SPO students in SPA250: Identity in the Spanish-Speaking World had the enormous privilege of traveling to Puerto Rico to meet with and learn from renowned community leaders, activists, artists, and writers. This is the third consecutive year the SPO department has sponsored the week-long trip in connection to the course, which is in high demand among undergraduate students. This year, activities included a bomba dance workshop at Corporación Piñones Se Integra, a tour of community organization Casa Pueblo in Adjuntas, a visit to the studio of artist Antonio Martorell in Ponce, a guided visit to the new exhibition Puerto Rico Negrx at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, a poetry workshop with award-winning poet Mara Pastor, an architecture- and urban-planning-focused walking tour of Old San Juan led by architecture professor Jorge Lizardi, a music workshop at the Casa de la Plena Tito Matos, and a drama workshop led by theater group Agua, Sol y Sereno. The trip and activities were planned by course instructor Mariana Bono, Firestone subject librarian for Latin American and Iberian Studies Fernando Acosta-Rodriguez, and course assistant-in-instruction Ashford King.

SPA 250 will be offered again in Fall 2024.