Dear Friends & Colleagues,

We are reaching out to Latino Princeton Alumni to ask for your assistance in compiling historical perspectives about the LatinX experience at Princeton University. This project, entitled Recuerdos, will be an authentic collection of experiences of Latino, Latina, and Latinx Princetonians through the decades. By Princetonians and for Princetonians, Recuerdos is a safe space to share moments, memories, good times, hard times, or whatever the alumnus/a cares to have remembered as his or her memory of their time at Princeton. The Recuerdos collection will allow LatinX alumni to share their unique experiences in relation to the broader Princeton experience, to benefit both. For incoming LatinX students, Recuerdos will provide an historical perspective on their own Princeton experience.

Why this is important
It’s been ~50 years since Princeton began a concentrated effort to recruit students of color. The results have been amazing – LatinX alums have contributed to the University and world in incredible ways. Examples of these contributions are all around us. However, there is still a need to tell more of these stories to help past and future generations to appreciate this important history.As LatinX alumni, We are the predecessors. We are the path-breakers and mentors who can help to guide and inspire future generations of LatinX students at Princeton. Let’s enable the next LatinX Princeton generation to succeed by providing our collective wisdom and experiences.

Contributing to the project
Share your experience or memories in any way that you like. Share a story, a poem, a creative art piece, a photo or photos of your time at Princeton. Any creative form that represents your Princeton experience is welcome. As this is very broad, we won’t know the ultimate shape and scale of the Recuerdos project until we receive actual contributions. We know, however, that any and all Princeton LatinX experiences are valuable, and we would like to collect as many as we can. If in written form, there is no word limit but please consider this will be a collection of contributions.We are targeting to have a first compilation of contributions by June 1, 2022, so please submit your Recuerdo as soon as possible. Having said this, Recuerdos will be an ongoing project, so contributions are welcome anytime. We anticipate publishing this collection as a Recuerdos Anthology that will be available to alumni, incoming students, and the public as a valuable contribution to the broader Princeton experience. Imagine a publication like this being sold at the Princeton University Store alongside famous Princeton authors! This project will also include 1:1 interviews with alumni regarding their Princeton experience.  Please let us know if you would like to be interviewed, and we will schedule you. 

Next Steps
Now it’s up to you! Please submit your contribution today. Please note that you will be asked to sign a release form to allow use of your information. We will follow up with individuals as the compilation begins to take shape.To submit your contribution either use this Google Form https://forms.gle/44ysCXRSsHq8MfhD9 or contact us via email at PrincetonRecuerdos@gmail.com. 

Looking forward to hearing back from you!