Happy Last Month of Classes, We Got This!

Meet Vincent Rosa-Chavez

Vincent Rosa-Chavez of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent is a senior majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis on Music. His passion for the arts started to rise during his time at the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, a place where Vincent started to experiment with music through his voice. “I grew up listening to salsa music, Spanish music,” says Vincent as he reflects back on his journey and what set him apart here in the music industry. 

Family has always been an important value to Vincent. His grandma was the reason why he started to listen to Spanish music, the reason why he is still connected to his Puerto Rican roots, and the reason why Vincent decided to go study abroad in Puerto Rico. After nine years of not consuming Puerto Rican food, Vincent felt grateful to come back to his roots because of the study abroad program. Through this experience, he learned that even if he doesn’t live in Puerto Rico, it is still possible for him to experience his culture and be involved in his community.

Growing up in a place where people did not listen to Spanish music, Vincent was inspired to continue pursuing his dreams of becoming an artist. “I couldn't really talk about my culture with people because they wouldn’t know my experiences”, as a young adult, he felt trapped in a place where there weren't people who shared his identity and roots. Music has made Vincent appreciate other musicians, he feels as though it is his responsibility to create a community for others and build relationships with one another. A fun fact is that Vincent is part of a band named Vinny Franco along with another eight participants, one of his biggest accomplishments was performing at a venue for over 200 people. As of right now, Vincent is currently working for Black Label Music, a music licensing company in Minneapolis where he helps write music for movies. 

One of Vincent's proudest achievements throughout his undergraduate career is getting awarded the "Orville and Gertrude Hognander Scholarship" which recognizes students with exceptional music performance and academic achievement. Vincent’s advice for the younger generation is to always be your authentic self no matter what. By being authentic to the community, Vincent has been able to achieve so many great things. We are so proud of you, Vincent! Keep being an amazing musician lighting up every room you enter. 

Dreamers Study Abroad Program

The CMSC’s Summer 2023 California-Mexico Dreamers’ Study Abroad Program will offer five 4-week sessions from May 2 to August 13, 2023, with each cohort composed of 35 DACA recipients, who have secured USCIS Advance Parole travel authorization for educational purposes through our program. All eligible dreamers residing in the U.S. are welcome to apply. The deadline has been extended to April 30th.

Scholarship Opportunity for Puerto Rican Women

The New York League of Puerto Rican Women are accepting applications for their 2023 scholarships due on May 26th, 2023. These financial awards are granted annually to undergraduate Puerto Rican women selected for their academic excellence and service to the community. To learn more, email nylprwomen@gmail.com

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training

Become certified by the National Council of Mental Health in youth mental health. All training and certification expenses will be covered by the Collaborative and you will receive a stipend of $250 for reach 8-hour training you conduct. This is a great opportunity for folks who are interested or are already engaged in youth work!

Food Initiatives Program Manager

Augsburg University has a few job openings, including this position, which will have the opportunity to work on food justice and food access for Augsburg. This person will oversee the Campus Kitchen and Campus Cupboard.

Bilingual Research Assistant

The Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute (HHRI) has a current opening for a full-time bilingual Research Assistant to support the research. The Behavioral Health Equity Research group works to develop and test behavioral interventions to improve health and health behaviors such as smoking, cardiovascular disease, HIV, cancer screening, and more.

Grassroots Organizer for NAMI MN

NAMI Minnesota is hiring a Grassroots Organizer to work remotely from anywhere in Minnesota to strengthen existing affiliates in Greater Minnesota, raise awareness of education classes and support groups, and connect mental health providers to NAMI Minnesota’s work. Submit your resume and cover letter to namihelps@namimn.org by 5:00 p.m. Central Time on May 3, 2023.