On Wednesday, February 18th, the Multicultural Marketing Student Association (MMSA) welcomed Bob Thompson, a State Farm representative, to speak with students about the importance of financial literacy and to share some tips about keeping a budget, savings and investment accounts, and the importance of saving for retirement
By offering these types of resources, MMSA is prepping students for their futures while empowering them both personally and professionally!
WELLNESS
Feeling stressed out? Overwhelmed? Need someone to talk to?
Visit COUNSELING.FSU for resourses
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STAFF MEMBER OF THE WEEK
Bianca Barbier
Roots: Brazil
Major: Public Relations with a minor in International Affairs
Fun fact: I studied my first year abroad in Valencia, Spain!
BOARD MEMBER OF THE WEEK
Peter Villegas
Company: Mercury
Role: Co-Chairman at Mercury
Cultural Trends
WHERE DID ALL THE COLOR GO?
More and more, the world around us is turning neutral From fashion to home design to movies to branding, beige and grey are becoming the norm While these colors can feel modern and sophisticated, taking color away from our spaces can also take away emotion and personality from our spaces. Color is a big part of culture, memory, and self expression, so as color becomes more toned down, people are asking, what might we be losing along the way?
READ MORE HERE
Industry This Week
PANDA EXPRESS 2026 LUNAR NEW YEAR FILM: WISHES
Happy Chinese New Year! Panda Express’ new short film “Wishes” tells the story of a young girl in San Francisco’ s Chinatown whose Lunar New Year wish is to have her family together, even after her doctor father is called away on an emergency Through hand drawn animation and a focus on family, tradition and togetherness, the campaign stands out as a heartfelt piece of storytelling rather than a typical product focused ad, which is why it has resonated so strongly with viewers. If you want a sweet, emotional two minute break that really captures the spirit of the holiday, this is a beautiful one to watch
READ MORE HERE
POP CULTURE
CHINESE NEW YEAR IGNITES GLOBAL CELEBRATIONS WITH COLOR, TRADITION AND UNSTOPPABLE ENERGY
Chinese New Year didn’t just quietly arrive it exploded into life across the globe with a surge of vibrant parades, dragon dances, and joy-filled streets that captured hearts from New York to Buenos Aires Celebrations marking the Year of the Horse brought communities together with dazzling cultural displays, lion performances, calligraphy workshops, and traditional music, turning cities far from Asia into lively hubs of festivity.
From ornate costumes and rhythmic dances to families sharing blessings and good fortune, this year’ s festivities fused age-old customs with modern, worldwide enthusiasm The result? A celebration that made history feel close, community spirit soar, and people everywhere buzz long after the festivities began
READ MORE HERE
KEEPING UP WITH DR. CHAPA
This past week, with all the sudden weather changes, Dr. Chapa was feeling pretty sick, but in true Dr Chapa fashion, she kept going and never stopped working
Even while recovering, she continued meeting with students, answering emails, and moving projects forward for the Center. On top of that, she spent long hours polishing her research on artificial intelligence and politics, preparing for the next conference she has been invited to in Puerto Rico. Her commitment to staying active, present, and fully engaged, even when she is not feeling her best, really shows how much she cares about her students and the work we do at the Center. She will soon be traveling to Puerto Rico to present this work alongside some of our outstanding students, sharing innovative research that explores how AI intersects with politics and public communication. We are incredibly proud that she is taking the name of the Center and FSU to this important space, while also creating opportunities for students to grow as researchers and presenters Her dedication, energy, and leadership are a constant example for all of us who work and study with her
We cannot wait to hear all about her experience in Puerto Rico next week and to celebrate everything she accomplishes there!
From the Hand to the Fire: Ancestral Ceramic Techniques
The ancient tribes that settled on our continent relied on three essential things to create such majestic pieces. These were and still are wild clay, simple handmade tools, and hand-forming techniques The clay formed a connection to the local land and underwent various processes to remove impurities, add strength, and eliminate air pockets. Moreover, among the most used tools are polishing stones or smooth river rocks to create a glossy finish, rib tools (made from wood, ground or bone for scraping and smoothing interiors), and naturally found elements such as sticks, rocks, or shells for pinching and decorating
In addition, two hand-building techniques were developed and perfected by these groups The first one is pinch pots, in which the thumb is inserted in a ball of clay, and walls are pinched outward/upward This technique is ideal for small bowls The second one is Coil pots, which work by forming a slab base, then sausage-like coils are attached and rolled Then these are bonded by pinching them and scraping to smooth the inside and out The process is repeated until the desired height is achieved
Once shaping and building are complete, the drying process begins: the pieces are left in the shade for 1-2 weeks. Then they are polished and fired, usually using the openfire method at 500-700°C, with the pieces covered to shield them from direct flames, and then cooled slowly for hours to avoid thermal shock
READ MORE HERE
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VOCES BULLETIN:
ANDREA SACASA VIVAS
Andrea is an undergraduate student in the last year of her Advertising Program, with a minor in Business and the Multicultural Marketing Communication Certificate. Contributes to the Center as Director for Internal Communications.
SOFIA OTTO
Sofia is a graduate student pursuing a Master’ s in Communication and Media Studies in her first semester of graduate school. She is also completing the Multicultural Marketing Graduate Certificate and contributes to the Center as a volunteer on multiple assignments. Specifically, she is the talent behind “Keeping up with Dr. Chapa” this semester!
DANIELA PAULINO
Daniela is an undergraduate student majoring in Marketing and Management with a minor in Psychology. She is also preparing for law school and pursuing the Multicultural Marketing Certificate to strengthen her expertise. She contributes to the Center for Hispanic Marketing Communications as a member of the social media team and the communications team. She is in charge of showcasing all our amazing members’ work every week!
