Sunday, March 16, 2025
When Paula Rojas-Young’s family moved from Hempstead to Lynbrook when she was in middle school, she felt like she had lost the sense of connection she had with her Hispanic community. The Hispanic and Latino population is half as large in Lynbrook as it is in Hempstead, according to U.S. Census data.
But soon after enrolling at Lynbrook High School, Rojas-Young found a new way to bridge that gap: She joined the school’s Culture Club.
This year she serves as president of the 45-member organization.
“Now I have the opportunity to connect with students in a similar situation, and welcome them in so that they don’t feel so scared about being in such a new place,” Rojas-Young said.
According to the State Education Department, the largest demographic group at Lynbrook High is white students, who comprise 29 percent of the student population, followed by Hispanic, or Latino, students, at 10 percent.
What began as a way for Rojas-Young to share her Mexican roots has blossomed into something larger for her, a place where students from all over the globe, including Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Colombia, can come together, celebrate their differences and learn from one another.
One of Rojas-Young’s favorite traditions in the Culture Club is its semi-monthly karaoke nights, when members gather to sing, share stories and bond over pizza.
“You get to see that we’re all just people,” she said. “We sing, laugh and have a good time. It’s honestly one of my favorite parts of the club.”
Karen Smith, who teaches English as a Second Language at the high school and is the club adviser, said that its members also take pride in its educational initiatives. One of its major events is a collaboration with the Diversity Club in which members visit local elementary schools to teach young students about different cultural celebrations. This year their focus was the Chinese New Year.
At East Rockaway Junior-Senior High School, the YOU Nations Club, which serves a similar purpose, has 15 members, and helps international students and those from different cultural backgrounds find their voices and build relationships, highlighting the importance of cultural understanding — especially in today’s socially and politically charged climate.
“I feel like sometimes people are a little bit misguided,” said Zainab Khan, president of the YOU Nations Club. “People need to learn the importance of culture, and how it varies in so many different ways.”
Khan, who is Muslim, has focused on ensuring that students from diverse backgrounds feel heard and respected. Her desire to serve the community extends beyond the classroom, and she volunteers at her mosque during the summer, she said.
Khan is a former secretary of the club, and she says that her leadership role has deepened her understanding of the importance of cultural exchange.
Like the Culture Club, YOU Nations also organizes educational programs for younger students. One of its signature events, Bilingual Storytime, is a partnership with the East Rockaway Public Library, in which club members present crafts and stories in both English and Spanish for local children.
In addition to its outreach efforts, YOU Nations focuses on creating lasting bonds between students through shared experiences. It is planning a visit to the African American Museum of Nassau County, in Hempstead, which will give students A chance to learn about African Americans’ history and culture during Black History Month.
Smith and Melinda Best, the adviser for YOU Nations, who also teaches ESL, both said that working with bilingual students inspired them to help with the cultural clubs. Smith said that many of her students end up joining the Culture Club to build friendships, which Best echoed.
“From a teacher’s perspective, it’s really important to learn cultural tolerance and be respectful of differences,” Best said.
For both clubs, the message is that diversity is a strength, and the more chances students have to connect with others from different backgrounds, the stronger the entire community becomes.
