Latinx is a gender neutral alternative to latino/latina. The "x" replaces the masculine "o" and the feminine "a" used in Spanish and Portugese. The term first became popular online in 2016 and is commonly used by activists and in higher education.

In addition to being a Park Scholar, Joe Cruz is involved with numerous Latinx organizations. Cruz is a member of Cultura Ithaca, African Latino Society, PODER, MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chican@ de Aztlán) and ​Immigrant Rights Coalition of Tompkins County.

Cine Con Cultura is an annual film festival held by Cultura Ithaca. The event takes place during Latinx Heritage Month and highlights Latinx filmmakers. This year, Hasta La Raiz and El Tiempo Nublado were among the films shown. Screenings were held at Cornell, Ithaca College and Cinemapolis in downtown Ithaca.

Cultura Ithaca is a nonprofit organization based in Ithaca. Its goal is to share Latinx culture with the community through educational events. Cultura Ithaca was founded by Carolina Osorio Gil, a Cornell graduate from Colombia. For more information go to culturaithaca.com.

Joe Cruz is a junior communication, management and design major at Ithaca College from Austin, Texas. Cruz is of Mexican descent and helps organize a lot of Latinx groups and events at Ithaca College, Cornell University and in the city of Ithaca. Ithaca has a small Latinx community, so Cruz's work has a big impact.