Pasos Hacia el Futuro: Improving Achievement through Culture, Community and Care (PASOS)

Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff

About 150 students attended Title V’s Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff to explore diverse Hispanic cultures, share their own backgrounds, and make connections.  After presentations from COM Spanish professor Rafael Naranjo and the Mexican Consulate’s Legal Affairs Representative Juan Carlos Hernández-Wocker, attendees enjoyed pupusas from a local restaurant and embraced the richness of COM’s campus diversity.

Latino Professional Panel

Title V hosted a panel of Latino experts with a wide-ranging experience in fields including higher education and medical.  COM students took advantage of this invaluable opportunity to learn from accomplished community leaders as they spoke about their experiences and gave great advice on how to navigate the path towards achieving personal and educational goals.  They also reminded attendees that aspirations extend far beyond the boundaries of College of the Mainland’s campus.

Motivational Speaker – Ovi Vasquez

National keynote speaker and author Ovi Vasquez shared with COM students how he went from a being a farm boy raised in a poor Central American village to working for renown corporations including Apple, Uber, Tesla and General Motors. After a dynamic presentation, he answered questions on classroom and career success, networking tips, and getting a head start on goal setting.

Loteria

COM students embraced the beauty of the Mexican culture by getting crafty with papel picado and playing a friendly game of lotería while enjoying each other's company during College Hour.

Community Outreach Library Events

Title V visited Moore Memorial Public Library, La Marque Public Library, Hitchcock Public Library and Mae S. Bruce Library for Día de los Muertos-themed events where children listened to a story and participated in a craft activity.

Fiesta Comunidad

Title V wrapped up Hispanic Heritage Month with Fiesta Comunidad, a vibrant community party showcasing diverse Hispanic cultures through musical and dance performances, delicious food, and community engagement. Over 800 attendees also witnessed a rare solar eclipse and participated in a trunk-or-treat hosted by COM departments and local community organizations.

Dominican Independence Activities

COM students celebrated Dominican Independence Day with a series of engaging cultural activities across campus including educational crafts, hair care, cultural snacks, and dance classes to learn steps to traditional Dominican dances.  This festive week was designed to honor and showcase the rich heritage and traditions of the Dominican Republic.

Tu Futuro: Latino Professionals and Their Path to Success

Title V hosted an inspiring panel of professionals featuring several prominent Hispanic community leaders who shared their personal journeys, achievements, and the college and career challenges that they have had overcome so that students could learn from them to plan for their own futures. Students and staff had the opportunity to hear firsthand accounts of perseverance, success, and the importance of cultural heritage.

Visual Arts Mural Project

The PASOS grant provided support to our art students for this year’s campus mural project.  Each year, our talented students take on the exciting challenge of designing a new mural, incorporating a unique and creative vision while preserving an element from the previous year’s design.  This initiative not only expands and enhances our visual arts program but also builds confidence and provides invaluable learning opportunities for our students, requiring teamwork, planning and critical thinking.  We continue to build a vibrant and culturally rich campus community through projects such as this.

A Student’s Journey to Overcoming Barriers

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, students gathered to hear an inspiring story of resilience and determination. One student shared her journey of navigating college life with a disability and managing her mental health. Following her heartfelt testimony, our Community Outreach Coordinator and Accessibility Coordinator discussed the stigma surrounding mental health in the Latino community, highlighting the importance of breaking barriers and seeking support. The event encouraged open conversations and fostered a sense of understanding and empowerment among attendees.

Belleza Latina

The Belleza Latina (DIY Beauty Workshop), part of Hispanic Heritage Month events, focused on teaching students how to create natural beauty products while exploring cultural traditions.  Students and staff learned about the history and uses of achiote, a plant widely used in Hispanic/Latinx cultures, before making their own lip stain using achiote powder and coconut oil.  This hands-on experience connected participants to Hispanic heritage and empowered them through cultural resilience and the role of tradition in beauty practices.

Fiesta Comunidad

Title V hosted it’s second annual Fiesta Comunidad on Saturday, October 12^th which was a tremendous success, drawing in approximately 1100 attendees from both the campus and surrounding community. The event featured cultural artists and performances, a Trunk or Treat activity, free food, art activities, and bounce houses for children. This event was in conjunction with a Health Careers Open House and Community Health Fair, all aimed at fostering community engagement and promoting student resources. Our volunteers and staff worked tirelessly to create an inclusive, fun, and educational atmosphere.

Dominican Independence Day Celebration

COM students and staff celebrated Dominican Independence Day 2025 with a baseball-themed tribute to one of the Dominican Republic’s most beloved pastimes.  The celebration featured interactive trivia, cultural snacks, and an engaging presentation highlighting Dominican history, customs, and the country’s deep connection to the sport. This celebration offered students an opportunity to explore the rich heritage of the Dominican Republic while building cultural awareness and community on campus.

Community Outreach Events

Title V participated in Hispanic cultural events like lotería nights and Día de los Muertos story times as well as community events like resource fairs, expos and press runs.

The Title V Community Outreach Coordinator represented COM at local events such as elementary school career days and ESL parent nights. She also partnered with local organizations to hold smaller scale events where she shared an overview of COM’s courses, programs, and perks to community members.

Peer Mentor Program Launch - Spring 2025

Spring 2025 marked the launch of COM’s new D.U.C.K. Peer Mentor Program - Driving Unity, Confidence, and Knowledge. From day one, peer mentors were connecting with students in Psychology for Success classes, hosting stress relief events during finals, and offering support all semester long. These student leaders help fellow Ducks feel seen, supported, and ready to succeed.

Learn more about the D.U.C.K. Peer Mentor Program.

Fiesta Comunidad

The third annual Fiesta Comunidad updates coming soon.

Exploring Hispanic Art Through Applied Learning

In Spring 2025, COM Painting students took their learning beyond the studio with support from the Title V PASOS grant.  The Painting instructor incorporated Hispanic culture and art into the course, culminating in a field trip to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.  Students explored works by influential Hispanic artists, connecting classroom techniques to cultural expression and real-world inspiration. This applied learning experience encouraged creativity, cultural appreciation, and deeper artistic engagement.