Members of LUNA prepare for a group activity. Photo by Mike Kemper 

JCCC’s Latinos United Now and Always (LUNA) is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to honor the history and culture of Hispanic and Latino Americans.  

During Hispanic Heritage Month, LUNA will participate in fundraisers to support the Greater Kansas City Hispanic Development Fund’s Cambio para Cambio. It is a competition between local colleges to see who can raise the most money.  

“We go up against schools like KU, K-State, UMKC, and Rockhurst,” said David Gabaldon, LUNA adviser.  

Cambio para Cambio, stands for “change for change” and is a community-led campaign that seeks to raise money for scholarships. The funds raised by LUNA support undocumented incoming JCCC students who receive the Hispanic Development Fund scholarship through a matching scholarship funded by the JCCC Foundation. 

Events hosted by LUNA during Hispanic Heritage Month 

• Sept. 21 Bake Sale @ JCCC COM Tables 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 

• Sept. 30 Chipotle Fundraiser 4-8 p.m. 

• Oct. 7 Tabling @ Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center 6-8 p.m. 

• Oct. 10 and 11 Anchor Coffee fundraiser (More info TBD) 

• Oct. 12 Canes Fundraiser 4-8 p.m. 12056 W. 95th St., Lenexa, KS 66215 

• Oct. 14 Bake Sale @ JCCC COM Tables 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 

“So, it’s kind of just fun, and it brings the community together,” said Karen Chavez, LUNA president. “That’s why we do a lot of fundraising during that time.” 

In addition to Hispanic Heritage Month, LUNA brings a vibrant community to JCCC’s campus. They continue to host events throughout the year to bring people together. That is what Valeria Rocho-Ruiz, a member of LUNA, is most excited about.  

“I think just having outside social gatherings,” Rocho-Ruiz said. “But I’m just really looking forward to being able to experience more of that and just getting to know more people in this group.” 

LUNA is an organization that supports Hispanic students. Its main mission is not only to support the Latina community but also to expand to other people and cultures. 

“Our goal is to strengthen and just be a community to Hispanic students and all allies as well,” Chavez said. “Just to be a place where Hispanic students can feel safe and feel seen as well on campus.” 

LUNA is a community and a family. They want to host a big tent and welcome people of all nationalities to experience everything LUNA has to offer.  

“We have a bunch of other students who aren’t Hispanic or Latino, who come join us and just hear, learn about the culture,” Gabaldon said. “So, I think spreading the culture, spreading what our backgrounds are — we’re all different, we grew up in different places, with different family dynamics and all that.” 

Rachel Hudson, a member of the Black Student Union, wanted to join LUNA so she could expand her thinking.  

“I figured that being a part of some other cultures would broaden my horizons culturally,” Hudson said.  

Chavez wants everyone to know that LUNA is for everyone, and all are welcome. 

“I feel like there’s a lot of people speculating that it’s just for Hispanic students or just for a certain type of group, but we’re open to everybody. If anybody wants to learn about the culture, just wants a place to hang out,” Chavez said. “Everybody’s welcome, and we also just wanted to make sure everybody knows that we’re a resource for everybody.”