By Maureen E. Moran '89

Some people would be intimidated by the thought of singing before a crowd of 300 or so people. For Andre Isaacs '05, however, the chance to inspire others was a welcome opportunity.

"I love to sing," he says.

Isaacs was one of several student performers who participated in an October brunch for the College's ALANA (African-American, Latino, Asian American and Native American) and international students. Held in Hogan ballroom as part of the Parents' Weekend festivities, the brunch celebrated the ALANA students' diversity, as well as their contributions to the College.

Co-sponsored by the College, the GAA's Bishop Healy Committee and several student organizations, the ALANA brunch has become a yearly tradition since its inception in 1979. With close to 340 attendees—including students, parents, faculty, administrators and guests—2001's brunch "was a record-breaking number," says Joe Reilly '55, chair of the Bishop Healy Committee.

In addition to a chance for parents to meet their children's friends, the brunch featured student performers and speakers. Because the Holy Cross Gospel Ensemble was unavailable to sing at the event, several student performers stepped into the spotlight. Isaacs, who hails from Jamaica, sang two pieces, "Hero" and "Greatest Love of All." According to Isaacs, the latter was selected because it begins with a sentiment appropriate for Parents' Weekend, "I believe the children are our future."

Isaacs says he chose his songs based on their ability to inspire listeners. "People really get hope [from] and are inspired by song," he says.

For Dean Esther Levine, an event organizer and master of ceremonies, the ALANA brunch has "a really positive, exciting, warm kind of feeling," she says. "I think the students feel loved."

Many of the students present at the brunch participated in Odyssey, a two-week program that is open to first-year ALANA and international students and held each year in August. "There is a wonderful community spirit that is formed in the two weeks of the Odyssey program," Levine says.

President Michael McFarland, S.J., offered words of welcome to all those present, and Rev. Catherine Reed of the Chaplains' office delivered the invocation. As part of the brunch's musical portion, Yin Hung '04 played a traditional Chinese song on the violin and Diana Castillo '04 sang the Spanish ballad, "Contigo en la distancia."

In addition, representatives from the co-sponsoring student organizations—Asian Students for International Awareness (ASIA), the Black Student Union (BSU), the Caribbean African Student Assemblage (CASA), the Latin American Student Organization (LASO), and the Muslim Endeavor to Create Cultural Awareness (MECCA)—spoke about each group's activities.

Although the brunch may appear to be just a chance to gather with family and friends, it has a deeper meaning for many of the students who attended. "It gave some people a sense that 'You belong,'" Isaacs says.

"It's really nice to see so many parents and students there, coming together to honor ourselves and the organizations for the ALANA students," adds Castillo.

For students who participated in the Odyssey program, the ALANA brunch marks a significant milestone in their Holy Cross careers. Levine notes that by October, the first-year students had been at the College for two months, and it was time to celebrate that achievement.

"They can't wait to introduce [family members] to their friends," she says.

With the brunch—which he describes as warm and welcoming, "almost like a big family picnic indoors!"—Reilly delights in the opportunity to celebrate the ALANA students' presence at the College. ALANA students now represent 12 percent of the overall student population.

"They enrich the College with their history and culture and customs," he says.

In recent years, attendance at the brunch has been climbing, a trend Levine is very happy to see continue. "The spirit of the students is more positive," she says, pointing to the first-year students' experience with Odyssey as one reason.

Although it may seem a little early to be thinking about next year's brunch, organizers aren't resting on their laurels following the success of the 2001 brunch. Already they are setting goals and looking ahead.

"Every year the attendance is bigger," Levine says. She'd like to see even more students at the brunch in 2002. "We'll find room for the people."

Increasing attendance is also at the top of Reilly's priority list. Pointing to the ballroom's annex, which can hold an additional 120 people on top of the 300 the ballroom can accommodate, he looks forward to the day when every seat at the ALANA brunch is filled.

"I will be very pleased when all of the possible 420 people are there," he says.