The Association of Harvard Latinx Faculty and Staff (AHLFS) was founded in 2009, through grassroots efforts. AHLFS was established to promote, support and advance the needs and goals of Latinx faculty and staff at Harvard University. Membership is free of charge and open to all faculty, administrators, fellows, and staff at all levels employed by Harvard University and its affiliates who support the mission of AHLFS.
Mission
The Association of Harvard Latinx Faculty and Staff is dedicated to promoting, supporting, and advancing the needs and goals of the Latinx community at Harvard University.
Vision
The Association of Harvard Latinx Faculty and Staff will establish itself as a channel of communication to address challenges and opportunities impacting the Latinx community at Harvard.
Goals
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Assist Harvard in the increased recruitment, retention, and promotion of Latinx faculty and staff.
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Develop a nurturing and empowering community for Harvard’s Latinx faculty and staff through professional development and social networking activities.
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Maintain an inclusive, supportive and dynamic system that addresses the needs of Latinx faculty and staff.
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Increase the visibility of the work and accomplishments of Harvard’s Latinx's in the larger Harvard and Metro Boston community.
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Establish partnerships with campus Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), programs, departments, faculty & administrators at all levels that support AHLFS mission to enhance access to Harvard resources.
About Employee Resource Groups
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are employee-directed organizations developed around shared backgrounds, identities, and issues; current ERGs focus on Asian, Black, Latinx, and LGBT communities. They partner with Harvard offices to promote administrative excellence, best practices, and the range of experiences across the University. While they have not yet been formally recognized by the University, these groups actively cultivate “inclusive excellence” on Harvard’s campus.
ERGs have been formed by Harvard staff and faculty over the past decades through grassroots channels, often in response to issues faced by marginalized groups on campus. They boast a membership that spans almost all Harvard schools and units. The University-wide scope of these groups offers members opportunities to connect with others of similar backgrounds, even beyond the bounds of Harvard’s siloed departmental structure.
University offices, such as Harvard Human Resources, have generously offered funding for specific ERG event materials, food, physical space, and other supplies on a case-by-case basis.
However, the execution of ERG activities depends on members to volunteer their time and skill in addition to their existing job responsibilities. The voluntary nature of ERGs leaves many members overburdened and the groups themselves under-resourced, both of which pose continual challenges to growth.
Latinx (la-teen-ex) is a gender-neutral term we chose instead of Latino or Latina to include all employees. By using this term, we aim to bring to light the complexity and intersectionality of Latin American identities. In Latin languages, the "o" or "a" at the end of a word represents the masculinity or femininity of that word. By using "x" instead, we include all employees. We also use "Latinx" instead of "Hispanic." We do this to include non-Spanish speaking people from Brazil or the Caribbean, or those who are indigenous.