Hispanic Heritage
Photojournalist José Galvez, acclaimed for capturing Latino life in the United States on film, will help Kenyon celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a talk and exhibition on Tuesday, September 25, at the Gund Gallery Community Foundation Theater.
Galvez was part of a team at the Los Angeles Times that won the Pulitzer Prize for public service in 1984 for an in-depth depiction of the growing Latino community in southern California. His talk, at 7:00 p.m., is called "Shine" and will be accompanied by an exhibition of his photos in the gallery lobby. The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.
Hispanic Heritage Month begins on Saturday, September 15, and continues through October 15. Events at Kenyon include an introduction to Kenyon's new Latino/a Studies concentration, readings, a dance party, and a celebration of Latino foods.
"Having a month of recognition is important to create awareness in the students that this is a thriving community that has contributed to this country in many ways and to remember the history of this relationship between the United States and Latin America," Professor of Spanish Clara Roman-Odio said. "We are recognizing the value of this community."
The Latino/a Studies concentration was approved last year. "We have a lot of faculty interested in issues related to the Latino population, and we're trying to draw from these sources to offer the students a coherent body of knowledge so they can learn more about the history, the culture, and all of the contributions made by those in the Hispanic community," Roman-Odio said.
Other events during the month include:
· Global Café, an adventure in Latin American foods at the Snowden Multicultural Center. Sunday, September 16, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
· Opening ceremony with display of the flags of Latin American countries at the Olin Library Gallery. Monday, September 17, 7:00 p.m.
· Introduction of the Latino/a Studies concentration, with Roman-Odio and Provost Nayef Samhat at the Peirce Hall Lounge. Thursday, September 27, 5:00 p.m.
· Latin dance party, with DJ Danny Diaz, at Peirce Pub. Thursday, October 4, 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
· "A Reading from the Authors of the Latino/a Diaspora" at the Greenslade Special Collections and Archives Room in Olin Library. Monday, October 15, 5:00 p.m.