Who We Are and What We Do
Despierta Boricua (DB) is the Puerto Rican Undergraduate Student Organization at Yale University. Founded in 1972, the main objectives of the organization are to foster a sense of community among Puerto Rican undergraduates at Yale, represent and voice the concerns of said community to the Yale administration, and to coordinate and sponsor educational activities dealing with Puerto Rican issues. DB strives to meet these objectives by coordinating a vast array of cultural, educational, and social events, as well as organizing community service initiatives to increase student involvement with the Puerto Rican New Haven community.
Despierta Boricua members become involved in a wide variety of projects throughout the year. Students meet regularly for weekly dinner meetings, during which they plan everything from discussions and speakers, community service projects, parties, and movie nights, to collaborative study breaks at La Casa with other Latino organizations. DB members also participate in Yale’s various Latino performance groups, like Teatro!, Oye! Latino Spoken Word, and Sabrosura, a pan-Latino dance group started in 2008. In the past, DB members have assisted with and coordinated recruitment initiatives, networking with alumni, and educational discussion dinners, road trips, and conferences; DB representatives also worked in conjunction with the Concilio, the coordinating council of La Casa Cultural, in order to maintain strong ties with the other Latino organizations within La Casa. Despierta Boricua exists so that all members of the Puerto Rican community can utilize Yale’s vast resources to their fullest extent.
History of DB
This vital part of the website is currently under construction, and will be updated with alumni input.
