Student Spotlight: Jimena López

Humanities in Action Scholar Connects with Immigrant Community

Humanities in Action (HIA) is a semester-long, paid community engagement program for humanities students at the University of Illinois. This collaboration between We CU Community Engaged Scholars and the Humanities Research Institute supports scholars seeking to work with community partners across Champaign-Urbana on projects that have immediate, real-world impact. HIA allows scholars the independence to explore personal passions, apply their humanities education, and make a difference in the community.

This week, we are spotlighting Humanities in Action Scholar Jimena López. Jimena is a junior majoring in the Teaching of Spanish with minors in legal studies and anthropology. Jimena partnered with the Immigration Project, a nonprofit providing legal and social services to the immigrant community across central and southern Illinois. 

Interview by Serena Naji, HRI David F. Prindable Intern

What work are you doing with your community partner?

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I've been volunteering at the Immigration Project since my freshman year, so I was really happy to find a program that allows me to continue working with them. Now, my responsibilities have expanded. I’m greeting people at the door and doing intakes, which I did not know how to do my freshman year because I was nervous to approach people in an area I wasn't that familiar with. But now, I've gotten the hang of that.

I also manage the spreadsheet of different financial applications. Then we determine whether or not they have sufficient documents. It can be a birth certificate, proof of address, proof of income, all of those tedious things, but I just help make sure everything is well, and contact them if anything additional needs to be provided. That's to do with social services, but on the legal side, I interpret for attorneys and their clients.

What inspired you to apply to become a Humanities in Action scholar?

I had already been volunteering with the nonprofit, so one of the volunteers there shared this opportunity with me. I decided to apply because it's something I had already been doing. I saw they offer a stipend to volunteer, which helped with transportation to and from campus, which I didn't want to hinder my ability to volunteer. I started with fewer credit hours my freshman year, so I had more time to volunteer. But after I amped it up, I was not able to get there at a reasonable time. I thought this would help me continue volunteering and be a part of a cohort of people who want to volunteer. I figured I could learn from them, and hear about different nonprofit organizations that need help. I've actually gotten that through this experience. I enjoy the different opportunities from this program, whether it be financial assistance, allowing me to continue volunteering, or even the seminars talking with people in the Humanities Research Institute.

How have you applied your humanities education to your service work as a Humanities in Action scholar?

The experience I've been getting deals a lot with cultural competence. Throughout my studies of Spanish, I've been exposed to different communities here in Champaign-Urbana, people I've never interacted with before. One of my courses for Spanish, Spanish in the Community, actually led me to volunteer at the nonprofit. That class asks for you to be involved in a nonprofit, or volunteer at a nonprofit, or do research with a nonprofit, and that's your grade for the class. I chose to do in-person volunteer work, and that's how I met the people at the Immigration Project. Our professor did a great job at introducing us to different topics and concepts of culture in Champaign-Urbana, more specifically, within the immigrant community. It helped me understand that there's much more going on than what we see on our college campus. It has helped me understand more about enhancing cultural competence. I came in with an open mind, was respectful of everyone's interests and what they're volunteering for, and everyone's mission behind their nonprofit. Through my experience volunteering, I've met with people from different backgrounds, and I've learned a lot from their different experiences.

How have you developed professionally through this experience? What specific skills have you gained?

I’ve been able to put my humanities education to use in the real world. There are so many things you can do with a humanities education, and it’s not one size fits all. If you have different kinds of interests, you should pursue them. Even if you don't find a passion that fulfills every interest, you can blend them into one. An example would be with what I'm studying. I'm interested in the law, I'm interested in history, and I also like Spanish. So, all of those things have intertwined with one another. Once I graduate, I want to have a career with all of these passions.

Being with my cohort has really helped me understand other people. A lot of what is emphasized, besides submitting our hours, is a section to reflect on what we did. And that has really helped me take notice of what I do on a daily basis. So, upon entering my hours, I reflect, and it helps me become more self aware of what I'm doing with my time volunteering.

How would you describe being a Humanities in Action scholar in three words?

Passionate, productive, and open.

Do you have any advice for future Humanities in Action scholars?

Do research on the nonprofits that are around you before you immerse yourself into a project, because it may or may not be something you're interested in. If you want to make the most out of your experience, it should be with something you have interest in. Another piece of advice is to stay authentic to who you are. You don't have to fit a mold of what you think an HIA scholar is, because all of us have different backgrounds, different experiences, and that's what makes us who we are. Just embrace that in the application, and when you meet your cohort, don't lose that sense of self. It really helps bring a different perspective to meetings and events later on.