Northeastern Illinois University will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of events that recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans and celebrate Hispanic heritage and culture. All events will take place at Northeastern Illinois University, 5500 N. St. Louis Avenue in Chicago, unless otherwise noted.
Hispanic Heritage Kickoff
Wednesday, September 15 at 11 a.m.
Student Union
The Student Union will host a live salsa band from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Village Square, followed by a keynote address delivered by Professor Luis Alberto Urrea from the University of Illinois-Chicago at 1 p.m. in Golden Eagles. Urrea is a 2005 Pulitzer Prize finalist for nonfiction and a member of the Latino Literature Hall of Fame. For more information contact Frank Gaytan at (773) 442-4877 or f-gaytan@neiu.edu.
Celebrating the Bicentennial of Mexico and Latin America
Keynote Presentation by Adalberto Santana
“The Past in the Present: Lessons of Independence Two Hundred Years Later”
Thursday, September 16 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Auditorium
Adalberto Santana, Ph.D., director of the Research Center on Latin America and the Caribbean of Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, will address persistent dynamics set up by the independence movements of Latin America that continue to affect its cultural, political and social conditions. For more information contact Yasmin Ranney at (773) 442-5441 or y-ranney@neiu.edu.
Poetry Reading by Febronio Zatarain
“Mexico en su Bicentenario De Itaca a Guanajuato Acampando en La Mancha”
Thursday, September 16 from 6 to 6:45 p.m.
Auditorium
Poet Febronio Zatarain will read “Mexico en su Bicentenario De Itaca a Guanajuato Acampando en La Mancha.” Zatarain’s reading will reflect on the landscape of violence affecting Mexico. For more information contact Yasmin Ranney at (773) 442-5441 or
y-ranney@neiu.edu.
Round Table Discussion:
“Academic Discussion of the Meaning of the Bicentennial Celebration Today”
Thursday, September 16 from 7 to 8 p.m.
Auditorium
Panel: Christina Bueno, associate professor, history; Juan Mora, history department; Oscar Alatriste, dean, School of Social Sciences, UNAM-Chicago. Moderator: Victor M. Ortiz, coordinator, Latino and Latin American Studies. For more information contact Yasmin Ranney at (773) 442-5441 or y-ranney@neiu.edu.
Reading by author José Mario Hernández Gallardo
“Once Upon a Time in the Future”
Friday, September 17 at 6 p.m.
Golden Eagles in Student Union
NEIU alumnus José Mario Hernández Gallardo will read from his collection of short stories published earlier this year. For more information contact Paul Schroeder-Rodriguez at (773) 442-4279 or P-Schroeder-Rodriguez@neiu.edu.
LifeSource Blood Drive Monday, September 20 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Alumni Hall in Student Union
For more information contact Janet Sandoval at (773) 442-6038 or j-sandoval@neiu.edu.
The History of Latino Immigration through Storytelling and Corridos Wednesday, September 22
Noon to 1:15 p.m. in Golden Eagles in Student Union
6 to 7 p.m. at El Centro, 3119 N. Pulaski in Chicago
Jesús “Chuy” Negrete is an expert in the fields of multicultural education, educational anthropology and ethnomusicology. For more than 30 years he has been weaving corridos, folk songs, with his guitar and harmonica. This event will tell stories of immigration in the Americas from pre-Colombian times to the present. For more information contact Gabriel Cortez at g-cortez@neiu.edu.
Hispanic Heritage 2010 Alumni Celebration
Friday, September 24 from 6 to 10 p.m.
Alumni Hall in Student Union
Join NEIU for a reception celebrating Northeastern Illinois University alumni contributions to NEIU and the Latino community. Nuestro Tambo bomba dummers will be performing. Come and enjoy refreshments, a dance performance, and a DJ and dancing. For more information contact Janet Sandoval at (773) 442-6038 or
j-sandoval@neiu.edu.
Ruta Chichimeca Bicentenario 2010 Bicycle Ride Saturday, September 25 from 8:30 a.m. to noon Foster Beach to Pilsen
Join NEIU in celebrating Mexico’s bicentennial on a bike ride around nuestras comunidades. Departing at 8:30 a.m. from Foster Beach and heading south to Pilsen, the trek will end at Cafe Jumping Bean, where lattes and scones await. For more information contact Luvia Valentin at (773) 677-7671 or l-vaentin1@neiu.edu; or Jaime Mendoza at (773) 442-5474 or j-mendoza@neiu.edu. This event is in conjunction with the Bicentenario Ride across Mexico.http://www.rutachichimeca.org/rtch.html
Lecture by Activist Flor Crisostomo
“U.S. Immigration: Economic Push Factors and the Indigenous Struggle in the Americas”
Tuesday, September 28 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Golden Eagles in Student Union
Flor Crisostomo is an activist in the struggle for the rights of the undocumented migrant community and families in the Americas. A Zapotec indigenous woman, Crisostomo will speak about current global economic policy and the displacement of indigenous communities in the Americas. For more information contact Gabriel Cortez at
g-cortez@neiu.edu.
Panel Discussion
“Anticipating Latino Scholars’ Contribution to Knowledge in their Disciplines”
Thursday, September 30 from 1:30 to 2:50 p.m.
With McNair Scholars and Kim Sanborn as moderator, this panel will discuss the contributions that Latino scholars offer based on the education they achieved in their chosen academic fields and their desire to interact and have a voice for their communities. For more information contact Alejandra Prieto-Mendoza at (773) 442-4254 or M-PrietoMendoza@neiu.edu.
Latino Student Leadership Conference: “Serving Latino Students at a Hispanic Serving Institution”
Saturday, October 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The mission of the Latino Student Leadership Conference is to promote leadership among current and future Northeastern Illinois University Latino students by celebrating the contributions of Latino educational leaders, providing a forum for social networking and the exchange of ideas, and to increase social awareness and empowerment around academic issues. This conference seeks to capitalize on the strengths of Latino students and the Latino community and to inspire them to achieve academic excellence. For more information contact Esmeralda Guerrero at E-Guerrero5@neiu.edu.
Reading by Author Yolanda Nieves
“The Brown Girls’ Chronicles: Puerto Rican Women and Resilience”
Wednesday, October 6 from 10 to 11 a.m.
Room 214, Student Union
A look inside “The Brown Girls’ Chronicles: Puerto Rican Women and Resilience” with author, poet and scholar Yolanda Nieves. For more information contact Neida Hernandez-Santamaria at n-hernandez@neiu.edu.
“Do I Even Know? The History of Cultural Commonalities among Latinos, African-Americans and Society “
Thursday, October 7 from 10:50 to noon
Golden Eagles Room in Student Union
Gabriel Cortez, assistant professor, education leadership and development, and Gilo Kwesi Logan, program specialist, Project Success, will lead a presentation focusing on the history of cultural interactions among Latinos and African descendants. The speakers will talk about cultural identity, community fragmentation and solidarity within Latino and African-American cultures. A video by Kuumba Lynx will also be presented. For more information contact Gabriel Cortez at g-cortez@neiu.edu or Gilo Kwesi Logan at G-Logan@neiu.edu .
Theatrical Performance
“American Sueño” by Miracle Theatre Group
Wednesday, October 13 from 3 to 4 p.m.
Fine Arts Center Recital Hall
“American Sueño” is Teatro Milagro’s new play focused on LGBTQ Latinos and other marginalized individuals searching for their idea of the American dream. This original bilingual work opened at El Centro Milagro in January and began touring in February, accompanied by an education program called “Journeys.” For more information contact Janet Sandoval at (773) 442-6038 or j-sandoval@neiu.edu.
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