Tommy Mariani

Staff Writer

Everyone here at Chamberlain listens to the morning announcements, but one piece of information has stumped listeners since the start of school; who is that person behind

the Mi Gente club related announcements? Well that person is Chamberlain’s own Vallida Garnica, head of Chief’s Copy and club sponsor for Mi Gente.

Garnica was born in New York City and raised in Los Anglos and is of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent. She went to Hillsborough Community College, where she first discovered her unique vocal cords.

“I learned about my voice during college when I sang in church.” says Garnica “My voice sounds velvety behind a microphone.”

Garnica later went on to perform in community theater after discovering her vocal range, going as far as to own a community theater project at the Italian Club in Ybor City. She performed, directed and wrote a play entitled “West Fort”.

After her brush with Off-Broadway, Mrs. Garnica came to good old Chamberlain during the 2008-2009 school year. She was hired as the head of the Chiefs copy center when she discovered that Chamberlain had a Mi Gente club and decided to become its sponsor.

“I consider it extremely honorable that one can speak two languages, especially one as cultured as Spanish,” says Garnica, “I see [the club] as an opportunity for those who are and aren’t of Spanish heritage.”

Garncia is quite proud of her club, which sponsors the CHS (Chamberlain Hispanic Students) Dance Team, spreads Spanish culture to the student body and encourages unity amongst the Latino students of Chamberlain.

“I love my culture,” says Garnica “Mi Gente is a term of unity and my vision was to stop bigotry of the various Latino students.”

Nothing makes this more evident thant the club’s sacred motto “Una Sola Rasa Una Sola Lenga!” (One Race, One Language)