Students in Dr. Gene Cassidy’s Latin America in Media and Politics IMPACT class learned about what it means to be a public servant in a recent visit with Connecticut State Representative Minnie Gonzalez, who spent three hours sharing her experiences, answering questions, and encouraging students to consider how they, too, might make a difference in their communities.

This interdisciplinary course challenges students to look critically at how Latin America and its people have been portrayed in American media and political discourse. From Hollywood films to political rhetoric, students examine the origins of enduring stereotypes and explore how race, gender, nationalism, and political interests have shaped public perceptions of Latino communities.

For Janvi Modi ’29, one of the course’s most appealing aspects is the freedom students have to shape their own learning. “As a group, as a class, we decide what topic or what project we want to do next, the format, the rubric,” she said.

That student-driven approach has led to some eye-opening discoveries. In their first project, students investigated how Latinos have been portrayed in connection with narcotics trafficking and gang violence, comparing representations in films and television with political speeches, news coverage, and historical research. They then presented their findings to faculty members, creating opportunities for dialogue about the stereotypes they uncovered.

More recently, students have turned their attention to immigration, comparing historical media portrayals of Latino immigrants with contemporary political narratives. Rather than following a prescribed format, students can choose how best to communicate their findings. Modi, for example, created a detective-style evidence board to illustrate connections between historical and modern perspectives.

The opportunity to speak directly with Representative Gonzalez brought classroom discussions into sharp focus. As president of the Connecticut Puerto Rican and Latino Caucus of State Legislators and a longtime advocate for the Latino community, Gonzalez offered students a firsthand perspective on the evolution of political discourse and the challenges facing Latino Americans. Having served in politics since the late 1990s, she has witnessed significant changes in how Latino communities are represented, discussed, and engaged in the political process.

But what made the visit especially memorable was Gonzalez’s willingness to engage with students openly and candidly. Over donuts and soda, she fielded questions and offered insights into the realities of public service, the complexities of party politics, and the importance of standing up for one’s convictions. Her message was clear: Serving the public means putting the community’s needs first, even when that requires challenging members of one’s own political party.

For Modi, what stood out most was Gonzalez’s genuine connection to the people she represents. Despite her decades in office, Gonzalez spoke less like a career politician and more like a neighbor who deeply cares about her community. “She feels like she’s a Hartford resident, one of the people,” Modi said. “She’s just an individual who cares about people.” Dr. Cassidy concurred. “”Rep. Gonzalez is a true exemplar of what a public servant should be: accessible, interested in the community, and devoted to informing and inspiring the next generation,” he said.

Gonzalez also shared her personal journey from Puerto Rico to Connecticut and the experiences that shaped her commitment to public service. Her story reinforced a theme Modi had encountered throughout the course: Behind every political issue or immigration statistic is an individual with a unique story.

That lesson had already begun taking shape during an earlier class conversation with attorneys from UConn who work with asylum seekers. The attorneys helped students understand the complexities of the immigration process and the difficult circumstances that lead individuals and families to seek refuge in the United States.

“It opened my eyes to see why people choose to come to the U.S.,” Modi said.

Hearing from both the attorneys and Gonzalez helped her connect the course’s academic research with the lived experiences of people in the community. While news coverage and political rhetoric often reduce immigration to broad generalizations, these conversations revealed the deeply personal stories behind the headlines.

Modi was equally impressed by the representative’s accessibility and generosity with her time. “She took her time with each question,” Modi recalled, noting that Gonzalez’s thoughtful, detailed responses often sparked further discussion. The students were so engaged that they could easily have continued the conversation for several more hours.

The visit was part of a broader effort to move learning beyond the classroom and connect students with the people and organizations working directly with Connecticut’s Latino communities. Through partnerships with the Center for Latino Progress and the Hispanic Health Council, the course provides opportunities to explore how issues of representation, identity, and equity intersect with everyday life. Rather than simply studying political narratives from a distance, students are encouraged to question assumptions, consider multiple perspectives, and engage with the individuals whose experiences inform these conversations.

For Cassidy, the goal extends beyond developing students’ understanding of Latin American history, culture, and politics. It is also about helping them recognize their own potential to effect change. Representative Gonzalez’s generosity with her time reinforced that lesson. By opening her office, sharing her experiences, and taking students’ questions seriously, she demonstrated that civic engagement begins with listening, connecting, and caring about the people one represents.