Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations 2006

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas and the Hispanic Heritage Month Committee announce the 2006 Hispanic Heritage Month schedule of events on the university campus. Combining academic lectures, distinguished speakers and cultural events, Hispanic Heritage Month is an exciting opportunity to create greater awareness of the heritage and contemporary achievement of Hispanic and Latino cultures.

This year’s celebration is titled “Hispanic Americans: Our Rich Culture Contributing to America’s Future.”

“Hispanic Heritage Month is a wonderful opportunity for students, faculty, staff and community members to be exposed to an array of Latino cultures that make up the Hispanic-Latino umbrella,” said Chris Medrano, co-chair of the Hispanic Heritage Month Committee. “These events are a great avenue to develop a more educated perspective of what really exists south of the border ... . It really is more than just Mexico!”

Hispanic Heritage Month begins Friday, Sept. 15, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, which declared independence from Spain in 1821. Mexico had earlier declared its independence on Sept. 16, 1810, and Chile on Sept. 18, 1810.

Today, more than 40 million people of Hispanic and Latino ancestry reside in the United States, making them the largest ethnic minority in the country and the fifth-largest population among the 19 Spanish-speaking countries of the world. According to the 2000 census, 67 percent of the Hispanic and Latino population of the United States trace their origins to Mexico, 14 percent to Central and South America, 9 percent to Puerto Rico, 4 percent to Cuba, and 7 percent to other Hispanic origins.

Friday Night Live “Latin Soul” will kick off the celebration at 8 p.m. Friday in the Arkansas Union. Friday Night Live is an initiative by the Division of Student Affairs to create fun and entertaining late night programs for UA students. FNL provides a setting in which students, faculty, staff and community members can be "edutained" in a stress-free environment. Each FNL provides a variety of activities, games, contests and memorabilia. “Latin Soul” will feature sizzling hot Cuban salsa band Havana NRG. Salsa dance lessons will be provided by Ritmo Latino. Slam poet Mark Gonzalez will perform at 10 p.m. at RZ’s Coffee House, and comedian Oscar Collazos from Colombia will perform at 11 p.m. in RZ’s. There will also be karaoke, crafts, free authentic Latino food and T-shirts, and a Spanish spelling bee.

The following is a schedule of events for the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration:

Thursday, Sept. 14

Latin American Studies and Foreign Languages Film Series
Chilean Movie "El Chacotero Sentimental"
Topic: "Transition to Democracy and Moral Openness"
5 p.m. — 310 Kimpel Hall

Friday, Sept. 15

Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas Conference
“Latinos in Arkansas: Redefining Community — Myths and Reality”
Reception and Art Exhibit
5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. — Multicultural Center (Arkansas Union 4th Floor)
Sponsored by Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas and the UA Multicultural Center

Friday Night Live — Latin Soul
8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Arkansas Union

Saturday, Sept. 16

Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas Conference
“Latinos in Arkansas: Redefining Community — Myths and Reality”
UA Continuing Ed Building (On Fayetteville Square)
For more information, contact Margarita Solorzano at hwoa@jcf.jonesnet.org or register online at http://www.hwoa.org/

Tuesday, Sept. 19

Hispanic Heritage Month Film Lecture
Spanglish
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. — Arkansas Theatre
Lecture will follow 2 p.m. screening
Sponsored by the UA Hispanic Heritage Month Committee

Wednesday, Sept. 20

“Similarities and Differences in our Community”
1 p.m. — Pat Walker Health Center Multipurpose Room
Sponsored by UA Human Resources and International Students and Scholars

“An Evening with Dr. Rolando Hinojosa-Smith”
Professor of English — University of Texas
Author of “Rites and Witnesses,” “Ask a Policeman,” “We Happy Few,” and many more
7 p.m. — Reynold’s Center Auditorium
Sponsored by Latin American Studies and the UA Hispanic Heritage Month Committee

Saturday, Sept. 23

Ed Simon Venezuelan Project
“Pianist Ed Simon takes the stage in a fusion of traditional jazz, Afro-Venezuelan and folkloric music”
7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. — Walton Arts Center Starr Theater
For ticket information, contact the Walton Arts Center at 479-443-5600 or online at www.waltonartscenter.org

Tuesday, Sept. 26

Plaza de las Americas
Free food, music, and information about Latin America!
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Connections Lounge
Sponsored by the UA Hispanic Heritage Month Committee

Wednesday, Sept. 27

Study Abroad Fair
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Connections Lounge
Sponsored by the Office of Study Abroad

Thursday, Sept. 28

Latin American Studies and Foreign Languages Film Series
Chilean Movie "Historias de Futbol"
Topic: "Everyday Popular Narratives"
5 p.m. — 306 Kimpel Hall

Monday, Oct. 2

Latino Education and Advocacy Day (L.E.A.D.)
Join us as we spread the word about issues facing Latino students and the Latino community!
Sponsored by UA LULAC Council

Tuesday, Oct. 3

Lectura para niños
10:30 a.m. — Fayetteville Public Library
Sponsored by University Libraries, the UA Hispanic Heritage Month Committee, and the Fayetteville Public Library

Hispanic Heritage Month Film Lecture
“Stand and Deliver”
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. — Arkansas Theatre
Lecture will follow 2 p.m. screening
Sponsored by the UA Hispanic Heritage Month Committee

Thursday, Oct. 5

Hispanic Heritage Month Brown-Bag Lecture Series
“Memory and Violence: Visual Arts in Chile”
By Professor Sergio Villalobos, UA Foreign Languages
Noon — Arkansas Union 513-514
Sponsored by Latin American Studies and UA Hispanic Heritage Month Committee

Tuesday, Oct. 10

Hispanic Heritage Month Brown-Bag Lecture Series
“Trends in Latino Music”
By Greg Buchanan, UA Graduate Student
Noon — Multicultural Center (Arkansas Union 4th Floor)
Sponsored by Latin American Studies and UA Hispanic Heritage Month Committee

Sabor Latino
A Celebration of the Latino Community
2 p.m. to 5 p.m. — Arkansas Mall (rain location: Connections Lounge)
Sponsored by Latinos Unidos, UA Hispanic Heritage Month Committee, and the UA Multicultural Center

Ballet Folkórico de México de Amalia Hernández
¡Viva México! Explore the vibrant colors, textures and traditions of Mexican culture through music and dance in an evening that transports you to a far-away exotic world.
7 p.m. — Walton Arts Center Baum Walker Hall
For ticket information, contact the Walton Arts Center at 479-443-5600 or online at www.waltonartscenter.org.

Wednesday, Oct. 11

Lectura para niños
10:30 a.m. - Fayetteville Public Library
Sponsored by University Libraries, the UA Hispanic Heritage Month Committee, and the Fayetteville Public Library

Thursday, Oct. 12

Hispanic Heritage Month Brown-Bag Lecture Series
“The Stressors, Challenges, and Mental Health Concerns that affect Latino College Students” — A discussion with representatives from UA’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Noon — Multicultural Center (Arkansas Union 4th Floor)
Sponsored by CAPS and the UA Hispanic Heritage Month Committee

Indigenous People of the Americas Film Screening
“Mined to Death” — A 2005 award-winning documentary
By Dr. Regina Harrison, Professor of Spanish and Quechua culture (Peru and Ecuador) at the University of Maryland
7 p.m. — Giffels Auditorium
Sponsored by Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies, the UA Multicultural Center, and Latin American Studies.

Friday, Oct. 13

Indigenous People of the Americas Lecture
“Capital Sins: Markets and Money in the Colonial Andes (1560-1631)”
By Dr. Regina Harrison, Professor of Spanish and Quechua culture (Peru and Ecuador) at the University of Maryland
1:30 p.m. — Multicultural Center
Sponsored by Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies, the UA Multicultural Center, and Latin American Studies.

Tuesday, Oct. 17

Gamma Eta Breast Cancer Awareness
3 p.m. — Multicultural Center
Sponsored by Gamma Eta Sorority

Thursday, Oct. 19

Latin American Studies Lecture Series Event
“How Electoral Laws and Development Affect the Women in Latin American Legislatures”
By Dr. Maria Escobar-Lemmon, Associate Professor of Political Science at Texas A&M University
3:30 p.m. — Arkansas Union 512

Thursday, Oct. 26

Latin American Studies and Foreign Languages Film Series
Argentine movie Nine Queens
Topic: "Crime as Justice"
5 p.m. — 306 Kimpel Hall

Thursday, Nov. 9

Latin American Studies and Foreign Languages Film Series
Chilean Movie El Niki: caluga o menta.
Topic: "The Usual Forgotten"
5 p.m. — 310 Kimpel Hall

Contacts

Chris Medrano, program coordinator, student activities
(479) 575-5255, cmedran@uark.edu

Scott Flanagin, coordinator of communications and outreach
Division of Student Affairs
(479) 575-6785, sflanagi@uark.edu


News Daily