Miami’s Unique Advantages to Global Pathways: Enhancing HBCU Students’ Opportunities to Succeed Through Spanish Proficiency

FAIN: AB-303445-25

Florida Memorial University (Miami Gardens, FL 33054-6155)
Déborah Gómez (Project Director: May 2024 to present)

A three-year project to develop three new courses in Spanish language and Latino culture in the United States, with an emphasis on the South Florida region.

The Humanities Initiatives at HBCUs grant will support the design of three new Spanish courses at Florida Memorial University (FMU). These courses, focusing on business, the medical field, and Hispanic culture, will enrich the offerings of FMU’s Department of Arts and Humanities. Despite FMU’s location in Miami Dade, where Spanish is prevalent, only two elementary-level Spanish courses are offered. This limited curriculum restricts our students’ engagement with the city’s resources and places them at a disadvantage in the job market, where there is a high demand for this language. This disadvantage is particularly alarming given our predominantly black student body, facing increased job market obstacles due to systemic racism. By expanding their language skills, these courses will enrich our students’ human experiences and enhance their job prospects. This initiative aligns with FMU’s mission of creating global citizens and serves as a vehicle for advancing social justice.