Since its inception in the winter of 2005-2006, “Somos” has aimed to spark campuswide dialogue about the dynamic culture and politics of Latin America. Now, as the magazine’s co-founders step down from top leadership roles, a new crop of writers hopes to carry the torch and expand on the publication’s founding mission.

Salvador Perez ‘07 and Nora Salim ‘06, the cofounders, conceived of the magazine as a way to engage interested campus communities with the political and economic developments sweeping the South American continent.

“From the Rio Bravo to Tierra del Fuego, a very real, tangible Latin American identity is crystallizing,” Perez said. “People and governments are coming closer together and the Union of South American Nations is integrating the continent on a model loosely based on the European Union. Our mission is to discover and discuss these issues in a consistent manner and depth.”

In its three issues, “Somos” has explored the impact of Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution, conservation in Peru, the death of former Chilean President Augusto Pinochet, the unemployed workers movement in Argentina and the Mexican elections.

Luis Garza Sada ‘06, a contributing writer for the magazine, got involved with the publication through the Mexicans at Stanford Association.

“I took the opportunity to try and make Americans understand life south of the border through the eyes of a Mexican,” he said. “Many things in today’s world are bringing the U.S. and Latin America together, and I think ‘Somos’ contributes to bridging the gaps that arise from established differences.”

In its upcoming issue, “Somos” will outline the social and political developments in Central America.

“It is a region often ignored in world news reports,” said co-editor Benny Padilla ‘07, “despite its successes and its failures that serve as models or stern warnings for the entire Latin American region, if not the developing world.”

The new editors hope to make the magazine’s Web site more interactive. Perez said that he hopes to see “Somos” increase the breadth of its Latin American art coverage beyond its standard music artist and abstract art briefings. He also said he hopes “Somos” will remain committed to covering the entirety of Latin America.

“One thing I hope continues to be the trademark of ‘Somos’ is its insistence on covering all of Latin America,” he said, “unlike the mass media which currently focuses mainly on events in Venezuela and Mexico.”