Noel Quiñones

What We Owe Each Other

We are living through a crisis of connection in America, marked by rising loneliness and a fundamental breakdown in how we engage with one another—not just in close relationships, but in our public spaces and communities. In the face of this crisis, Noel centers the radical premise that we owe each person we meet something—our attention, our grace, our willingness to be changed by encounter.

In a society that prioritizes individual achievement, we must start to see collective care as a civic duty. Citing Noel’s lived experiences as a friend, partner, child, and teacher, they move beyond abstract ideals of “being nice” to offer concrete, actionable solutions for creating conditions where authentic relationships can flourish. Then, drawing from nearly 20 years in community organizing and storytelling spaces, Noel expands on how the simple act of making space for others to share their stories creates belonging at scale.

By the end of this session, participants will have practiced making space for a stranger’s story, experienced being heard, and learned how personal vulnerability and accountability becomes the foundation for broader social connection, whether in our workplaces, schools, communities, or public spaces.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of attending the program, students will learn:

• how to create story sharing spaces 1-on-1
• deep listening as a civic commitment
• how to navigate disagreement with grace
• how to embrace the complexity of community

The Contradiction of Latinidad

With the increased focus on the Latino population in America, there is a mounting fear and dismissal of the inherent contradictions this community brings. Are Latinos Black or White, fluent or not fluent, culturally assimilated or culturally obstinate? As more and more confusion surrounds Latinidad, Noel turns to their favorite contradiction: the Puerto Rican word, WEPA, used both to acknowledge mistakes and to celebrate. Fueled by this word, it is Noel’s belief that, in its complexity, Latinidad offers us the opportunity to view all identities with more nuance.

Using personal storytelling, empirical data on Latino identity development, and historical pillars in the cultural & political history of Latinos in America, Noel invites students to embrace the contradictions of identity. At a time where our country is grappling with questions of immigration, language, and who gets to call themselves American, Noel highlights complexity, accountability, and belonging as a path forward.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of attending this program, students will learn:

• the history and vocabulary of the terms Latino, Hispanic, and Spanish
• about Latino American history and current conversations on Latinidad today
• the benefits of complexity and nuance in identity
• about resources to further explore and support Latino American history and identity

Working With Instead of For

“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” – Aboriginal Activist Collective.

As a former Associate Director of Service Learning & Civic Engagement, Noel has worked with hundreds of students to create impactful projects built at the intersection of passion, accountability, and collectivism.

Yet, not content with just talking the talk, Noel created and engaged in several service learning projects on their own. Through stories and lessons from teaching in South Africa, working on farms in Puerto Rico, and creating a literary arts organization in their hometown of the Bronx, New York, Noel invites students to ask themselves two questions: “What does my community need?” and “How can I use my experiences to partner with my community?”

Learning Outcomes

As a result of attending the program, students will learn:

• the critical service learning model and its definitions
• how to connect their passion to service