Donat De La Cruz embodies everything an activist should. He is peaceful and works to help people beyond just helping himself. In his time at Geneseo, he has enjoyed meeting “a lot of brave individuals” on campus. With his activism work and unrelenting attitude toward improving his surroundings, many would even consider De La Cruz to be one of those brave individuals himself.
De La Cruz is a member of Fighting Against Racial Injustice (F.A.R.I) and has been nominated for the President’s Commission on Diversity and Inclusion. He explains that
“I don’t affiliate myself with anybody else in the school except for the multicultural office programs and services. I try to keep myself autonomous as much as possible so that I can just navigate differently.”
De La Cruz says he has learned a lot of what activism is about from Fatima Johnson, the former Director of Multicultural Programs and Services at Geneseo. He believes a crucial aspect of activism is making room for as many people as possible from all demographics and identities, and he feels no one should have to shrink and not share their opinion.
When it comes to his ultimate goal for his time at Geneseo, he says he wants to show students how powerful they are and teach them how to show up for themselves.
“I just want to create spaces where students can cultivate on their own. They don’t need an adult to tell them how to do it. They can figure it out, and also create spaces where they know when to ask for help,” De La Cruz said.
He is currently part of organizing and promoting a documentary series through F.A.R.I, which promotes discussion about racial issues at Geneseo in the past and the present.
De La Cruz wants to continue the work he’s done at Geneseo in the future by becoming a diversity officer at a university or college, which is why he is a communication major. He hopes to attend New York University after graduating and participate in a creative writing program through which he would get a master’s degree in fine arts.
“I think based on the reality that I’ve seen, Geneseo is an example of the rest of America and the world. Because of that, I want to be a chief diversity officer,” De La Cruz said.