A new identity program house for Latine students is forming this semester. The new house will be a merger of La Casita — the University’s Latine student house — and Casa Machado, the Spanish language program house.
Motivated by a social split between the two houses, a concern over President Trump’s second term and a desire for Latine unity, the co-presidents told The Herald that they believe a merger is the best course of action.
Initial ideas for the merger began as students in both organizations noticed social divides between the two program houses.
Co-President Lilia Felipe-Pozo ’26 explained that the Latine student community was largely split between La Casita and Casa Machado, which created a “silent divide between members” of the two houses, she said. Co-President Daniel Brambila-Diaz ’27 added that many students would also confuse La Casita and Casa Machado since both houses attracted portions of the Latine community on campus.
The merged house hopes to provide a more “unified” and “central” organization to create a greater sense of community among Latine students on campus, Brambila-Diaz said.
The merger “will eliminate the sense of exclusivity that some members might have felt towards one another and instead foster a more cohesive and supportive environment for everyone,” Felipe-Pozo said. “We believe that the merging of these houses is the best course of action for the Latine community at Brown.”
Last semester, the co-presidents of the new house held conversations with the Office of Residential Life to get formal approval for the merger. Over the spring semester, the co-presidents will plan out the merger’s logistics, rename the new house, form an executive board and recruit new students.
Organizing collaborations with other Latine clubs and affinity groups on campus will also be easier under the merged house, Brambila-Diaz said. The process for getting funding or spaces will become more streamlined, allowing the houses to be better equipped to host events highlighting different cultures and traditions within the Latine community, he added.
For Co-President Jenifer Bonilla ’26, joining Casa Machado her sophomore year was the highlight of her Brown experience. Through the merged house, she hopes that other students find that same sense of community and a safe space to connect.
For Felipe-Pozo, the banning of race-based affirmative action and Trump’s return to the presidency has heightened “fear and uncertainty” among Latine students on campus. The leaders of the new program house noted the merger comes in preparation of Trump’s second term, a development that has worried many Latine communities across America.
“In such a political climate, having a safe and supportive space where students not only find solidarity, but also have their experiences validated, is such an essential lifeline,” Felipe-Pozo said. “It is crucial for us to ensure that these spaces continue to exist.”
“We want them to have a space where they can feel like they not only have their Latine identity represented, but their intersectional identities represented as well,” Brambila-Diaz said.
Bonilla noted that the merger is reminiscent of La Casita’s origins, since it was formed shortly after the start of the first Trump presidency in 2017. The story of La Casita’s founding inspired her to connect with other Latine community members to navigate the current political climate.
“It was really comforting to think about what this new house means,” Bonilla said. “We’re looking at those student leaders and activists in 2017 who navigated that time, and seeing how we can figure out how to navigate this time.”
“I think this house will be a pillar that will strengthen and nurture this community, by offering the necessary and safe, inclusive spaces where we honor both our shared experiences, but also the unique differences that define the diversity in Latin American identities,” Felipe-Pozo said.
Sophia Wotman is a University news editor covering activism and affinity & identity. She is a junior from Long Island, New York concentrating in Political Science with a focus on women’s rights. She is a jazz trumpet player, and often performs on campus and around Providence.
