The Latine Student Organization at Penn State Abington kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month on Sept. 15 by hosting noted activist Saul Flores, who walked more than 5,000 miles to personally experience the arduous and dangerous journey that many immigrants endure on their way to the United States.  

The seeds of the Walk of Immigrants were sown during an intensive leadership development fellowship he was awarded as a college student.

He used the funds to organize a service trip to Central America, which inspired Flores to raise awareness of the struggles immigrants face. 

He took more than 20,000 photographs of the people and the places along the way, using proceeds from the sale of the images and sponsorships to help rebuild the lone elementary school in his mother’s rural hometown of Atencingo, Mexico. 

“Immigrants leave behind their homes and communities for something that isn’t certain. My mother said that people don’t know how hard it is to leave not for opportunity, but for a chance for opportunity,” he said. 

Daniel Garcia leads the Abington campus Latine Student Organization (LSO), the group of 200-plus members that coordinated Flores’s visit.  

Garcia, an international student from Colombia, echoed the emphasis Flores placed on the importance of owning and sharing your personal story. 

“When I was leaving my country and saying goodbye to my dad, he said he wanted me to be outstanding. I’m the first generation in this country, and he wants me to build the best resume and build a network,” Garcia said. 

Garcia quickly started knocking out those goals, working for Penn State Abington’s Office of Global Programs to support other international students and as a Lion Ambassador tour guide. He also became active with the Student Government Association and LSO. 

Although Garcia is moving on to the University Park campus next year, he urged students who may be struggling to adapt to college to reach out to LSO or other campus organizations.  

“We will help you get to know the campus and the people. We want to be a resource for new students,” he said. 

More about Saul Flores.