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Chicano Studies
chicstud@umn.edu
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chicstud@umn.edu
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News & Events
Special Bulletins
Narratives of Undocumented Immigrants
La Raza Student Cultural Center and the Department of Chicano Studies present:
Narratives of Undocumented Immigrants-an interactive exhibit.Is immigration a security issue or a human rights issue? How have immigration policies impacted people who live in our community? Come listen, learn, interact on a topic so important to all communities and in particular focus at this presentation, to the Chican@/Latin@ community/communities.
Friday, May 11th, 2012
Great Hall, University of MN
300 Washington Avenue SEPresentations at 12 and 3 , panel at 12:30
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Chicano Studies Seniors Paper Presentations
Graduating seniors complete a Senior Paper, which is a project that students spend significant time and energy completing. These papers represent a students' culminating work in their area of study and we hope you will join us for their presentations.
FRIDAY MAY 4, 2012 12:30-2:00PM SCOTT HALL 2
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Department Alum's Play to Show at Neighborhood House May 4th
Join us Friday May 4th at the Wellstone Neighborhood House in St. Paul for the showing of Chicano Studies alumna Donna Peña's play, Sigan la Bandera-Guadalupe's Journey with Mexico. The play is a bilingual musical historical narrative. We are pleased to offer this as the May signature event for the Department's 40th Anniversary Commemoration.
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Precious Knowledge Screening 4/20/12 at Bell Museum Auditorium
Free Public Screening on 4/20/12 at 7:20 pm at the Bell Museum Auditorium.
More InfoA Very Busy Month of March!
In additional to two campus visit by 6-12th graders from El Colegio and Juventud Conectada, a CASA SOL and La Raza combined trip to Chicago for the National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies, we will also be hosting a fabulous day-long symposium and THURSDAY MARCH 22ND focusing on the Future of Chicano Studies and highlighting top notch academicians and thinkers locally and nationally.
Panelists include specialists in women's work and domestic labor, poverty and transnational migration of Mexicana workers; Chicano/a historical movements; queer Latinidades and the symposium will end with a dance performance and discussion. All events are free and open to the public--we hope you can join us and folks from around the country in our work of Envisioning the Future of Chicano Studies!
More InfoFebruary's Messages from the Heart
Life has its ups and downs, its good days and bad days as well as its love affairs and its break ups. News and issues of importance to the Latino community certainly are no different.
This month's second Chicano Studies sponsored event, Mira Mi Corazon, will showcase Heart Art--40 wooden hearts that have been decorated by local artists, faculty, staff, students, youth, and community members. Grounded in Chicano Studies values of justice, cultural pride and political resistance, the hearts will be sold at a silent auction and the proceeds to go towards scholarships. Please join us Friday, February 24th from 5-7 pm at El Colgio Charter School, 4137 Bloomington Ave in s. MPLS.
We hope you can attend!
Other important news-
Breaking Up With Trader Joe's:
After nearly two years of a nation-wide campaign, Trader Joe's still refuses to sign an agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a group of farm workers in Florida who have successfully pressured corporate giants like Whole Foods and McDonald's to agree to ensure that farm workers in their supply chains get treated humanely and get paid at least one penny more per pound of tomatoes they pick. And now, Trader Joe's is opening it's first Florida store, only 30 miles away from Immokalee on Immokalee Road. The CIW is planning a huge action during the "Grand Opening" weekend of the new store and there will be a solidarity action here in the Twin Cities. The local CIW Support Committee including members of the Chicano Studies Migrant Farmworker class---one of many groups and collectives nationally that organizes in solidarity with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers- joins with Trader Joe's customers on Friday, February 10th at 5:00pm for the delegation to Trader Joe's in St. Paul. The meeting place will be P.J. Murphy's Bakery (1279 Randolph Ave.) at 5pm. Email Brian at brianpayneyvp@gmail.com if you can attend. The delegation will make some noise as takes break up letters to Trader Joe's.***UPDATE: Friday February 10th, CIW Announcement: Trader Joes signs agreement for better wages and working conditions and now the focus is on Publix grocery store chain. (http://ciw-online.org/) More information to follow in support of farmworkers and their demand for better wages and working conditions.
More InfoSpring Semester 40th Commemoration to Begin Thurs. Jan 19th
Welcome back to all students, staff, faculty, families and community! We hope you are ready for 2012. While there have been indeed many gains and important work done to achieve community voice and agency, there still remains significant work and fundamental changes necessary to achieve a more just society and lives of dignity and respect for individuals, families and community.
As many of you know, Chicano Studies, along with La Raza Student Cultural Center here at the University of Minnesota, commemorate 40 years of struggle, community and academics during the 2011-2012 academic year. During the fall term, we heard from local and national experts on educational justice, xicanindio identity after beginning the year honoring those founders of Chicano Studies and La Raza Student Cultural Center (then called the Latin Liberation Front).
We hope you will join us for events and movement building during the spring term and beyond. Our first event for spring semester will occur THURSDAY JANUARY 19TH at the Mexican Consulate in St. Paul. (797 7th Street East, St. Paul, MN 55106) We will host the screening of Los Invisibles/The Invisibles--a film by Gael Garcia Bernal and Amnesty International on the men, women and children who travel from Central America through Mexico on their way north. Mexican Consul Ana Luisa Fajer will lead the post film discussion. It promises to be a great event.
Please see our full listing of events for the entire year at the Chicano Studies website:
More Info
National Scholar to Speak on Latinos and Educational Justice
Talk and Discussion:"Establishing High Expectations and Inclusiveness in the Curriculum and Classroom Culture" As part of commemorating the 40th anniversary of Chicano Studies, for the months of November and December, we are focusing on Latinos and Education in our communications and events. Please see info below about an event next Thursday. There are supporting documents at the end of the write up.Please join us on THURSDAY December 15TH AT 4:30 PM, at El Colegio Charter School for a lecture given by national scholar Marcos Pizarro.
Marco Pizarro wrote the book, Chicanas and Chicanos in School: Racial Profiling, Identity Battles and Empowerment.Culturally relevant curriculum and culturally competent instruction and instructors matter. While many can agree with this point in theory, ensuring it to be a reality proves to be a different and more complicated story. We hope you can join us in this discussion-it promises to be a great event.
Please pass on the info to others you think might be interested-including and particularly for those who have, work with or can bring older youth to the event.
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MN Statistics:
From the MN Minority Education Project (MMEP):
Most recent (2009) "State of Students of Color and American Indian Students"A bit dated (2006), but provides significant info about Latino success (and lack thereof) in both the metro area and rural MN.
"Latino Students in Our Public Schools: A Closer Look"
Center for Rural Policy and Development. Click on "Education" and this report is the 2nd link.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From the Pew Hispanic Research Center:
"Latinos and Education: Explaining the Attainment Gap" by Mark Hugo Lopez
Nearly nine-in-ten (89%) Latino young adults say that a college education is important for success in life, yet only about half that number-48%-say that they themselves plan to get a college degree, according to a new national survey of Latinos by the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center.
The biggest reason for the gap between the high value Latinos place on education and their more modest aspirations to finish college...click to read full article
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More InfoMeditations on Latinoization, Citizenship, and Belonging
The following essay is taken from the conclusion of Louis Mendoza's forthcoming book, Conversations Across Our America: Talking About Immigration and Latinoization (UT Press, Spring 2012)
Conversations Across Our America is and is not my story, just as it is and is not your story wherever you position yourself within the debates on immigration. Latinoization refers to the ongoing process of cultural, social change occurring in the United States as a result of the profound demographic shifts of the last forty years. Latinoization is not a phenomenon that occurs with the United States as a passive actor, rather it is a consequence of the interconnectedness of imperialism and globalization, processes in which the U.S. plays a central role and is a primary beneficiary. Immigration policy is at the nexus of domestic and foreign policy.
As I prepared for my research trip in the Spring of 2007 the nation was in the midst of a heated debate about immigration reform. These debates went to the core of who "we" are as an immigrant nation, the cultural, philosophical and political qualities that define who "belongs" in the U.S.
More InfoDia de los Muertos, 2011
This year marks the 6th anniversary of Chicano Studies, La Raza Student Cultural Center and Casa Sol celebrating Dia de los Muertos with altars, a procession, danzantes and ending with a community gathering at La Raza Student Cultural Center with food, good company and the first annual Calavera Contest! Our events occurred this past Friday, October 28th.We celebrate El Día de los Muertos as a time-honored tradition in our community but also utilize this occasion as a somber reminder that we face many legal, political, and social challenges to securing a better future. In this spirit, dia de los muertos is a time to educate ourselves and others and renew our commitment to a meaningful life.
This year's theme was 40 Años de Lucha with each altar providing an opportunity to remember and honor loved ones who have passed, but also to educate people about issues impacting our community. The Chicano Studies altar focused on voices who rarely get mentioned or acknowledged in mainstream writings such as Gloria Anzaldua and Emma Tenayuca, for example. Thee was also a special spot for well known and respected Professor Guillermo Rojas, former chair of the Department for almost 20 years, who passed this last summer.
The Casa Sol altar was very full and vibrant with students' contributing personal cajitas, or boxes in memory of people and larger social-political issues such as immigration, border violence, and cultural pride interveaving them, and their families with life in the US.
The La Raza altar focused on immigration and recent laws impacting undocumented families, in particular, Alabama's current law HB56 which gives permission for police officers to question anyone they suspect of being undocumented and while currently blocked, the original law includes a provision that students in the K-12 must prove they have legal status to attend school. Also mentioned was CA's recent passing of their state's version of the DREAM Act, allowing undocumented students to apply for state funded financial aid.
A group fro Ketzal Coatlique danzaron in front of Coffman Union as those in the procession and others gathered around and heard from la Jefa as she talked about the dances and Dia de los Muertos.
Finally, the community gathering included good food, good company and the first annual Calaveras contest! This year's first place winner was Rodrigo Sanchez-
Chavarria for his poem, Muerte. Second place went to Gilberto Vasquez Valle with this calavera of Michelle Bachman.In the evening, youth from Ketzal Coatlique presented to a larger group at La Raza on their experiences being part of danza and specifically Ketzal Coatlique. The youth showed such grace, clarity and articulation. It was an honor to have them present and we wish them many more years and lifetimes of danza.
What is Dia de los Muertos? Day of the Dead?The Day of the Dead is a tradition that dates back to the ancient civilization of the Aztecs. This tradition was originally held during the Aztec month of Miccailhuitontli that falls during the months of July and August. After the arrival of the Spanish, the Christian church converted the tradition to fit a more Christian tradition the day of all saints El Dia de Todos los Santos. The change to the tradition is the reason for why now we celebrate the day of the dead on the first two days of November instead of in the months of July and August.
On the first day of November, we celebrate El Dia de los Angelitos the day of the little angels that refers to the children that have passed, who are under the age of twelve. The second day of November is for the day of the dead El Dia de los Muertos or the day of all saints El Dia de Todos los Santos. During these two days, it is custom to honor the people that have passed away with flowers called zenpazúchitles or marigold flowers. The dead are celebrated not only with flowers, but also with the cleaning of graves and altars that have ofrendas (offerings) for the dead. The offerings consist of el pan de muerto (the bread of the dead), sugar skulls, copal incense, velas (candles), favorite foods, and favorite things. The offerings are done so that the dead may once again rejoice on the things that they once loved.
El Dia de los Muertos is a day to remember our loved ones who have left the world of the living with stories and good things about them and by rejoicing in the idea that they will be enjoying their favorite things once again.
More InfoPrograms and Outreach Update-Fall 2011
Happy fall and school year 2011-2012! While classes have been in session for just a few weeks, Chicano Studies has been busy, involved and active in many arenas! Certainly very high on the list and quite present in our daily work is the department's 40th Anniversary Commemoration. We started the year honoring the department's founders at La Raza Student Cultural Center's annual El Grito event. It was an honor and privilege to listen to the original members of the Latin Liberation Front-those who demanded the formation of the Chicano Studies Department in 1971- describe what it was like then and offer their perspective on today's organizing and educational empowerment. Also on that day, we honored and commemorated the life of Dr. Guillermo Rojas, long time department chair, who passed this last summer. We are honored that his family was able to join us.
For the 40th anniversary, there will be plenty of events to attend, things to think about and ways to get involved. Contact Outreach Coordinator Lisa Sass Zaragoza (sassz001@umn.edu) if you'd like to get involved either with 40th events or with other outreach efforts. See the poster and more complete details at www.chicano.umn.edu.
On campus, we are excited to welcome all new students to campus and particularly those involved in CASA SOL, our first year living learning community. All Soleros take a Chicano Studies class as well as have opportunities to connect with many opportunities on campus. In September, this fabulous group completed a day-long retreat at Camp Iduhapi- a local YMCA camp and there are many more activities and opportunities planned and in the works!
We continue our campus visits with K-12 community partners Academia Cesar Chavez (E. Side St. Paul), El Colegio/Juventud Conectada (S. MPLS) and Centro Campesino-particularly their Latino College Access Program. As students and families come to campus, they become more familiar with not only the college/university setting, but with the idea of higher education, more knowledgeable about the college process and resources available to indeed make higher education a possibility.
Finally, we continue our work with the Oral History and Video Projects. Both efforts grow from the desire to document issues of importance to our community, to record community members and provide an arena for authentic voice. Check out our website (add link) to see some or our first efforts. Both projects continue to grow and more and more videos will soon be added to the site.
Join us!
Sinceramente,
Lisa Sass Zaragoza
More InfoChicano Studies: ¡Presente!
¡Happy New Academic Year 2011-2012!
As many know, this academic year, we are celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Chicano Studies. Forty years ago, students from the Latin Liberation Front (pre-cursor to La Raza Student Cultural Center), demanded from the University of MN administration, the establishment of a Department of Chicano Studies. It was not an easy effort, nor did administration cede readily. Rather, it was the vision, courage and tenaciousness of a few strong people, within the context of tremendous social change, which catapulted the midwest onto the scene nationally. At the annual Grito event on Saturday, founders discussed their vision--particularly the steadfast demand for a department and not only a program as key to a validated and strong presence on campus.
Join us as commemorate 40 years of struggle, service and dedication. Chicano Studies will continue programming and co-sponsoring events throughout the year, with special events dedicated to the 40th Anniversary on the Third Thursdays and Final Fridays of the month.
¡Adelante!
More InfoDepartmental Videos Now on the Website
We invite you to view some videos produced by students, staff and/or faculty in the Department of Chicano Studies. We are working to get on the website many of the interviews completed for the Department's Oral History Project as well as videos produced for the Video Project. Both projects are relatively new and just a few of the ways in which we connect our work within the academy with and community priorities and initiatives. To view the videos, click on the box marked, "Videos" to the right, just under the "Spotlight" section.
We look forward to sharing with you more of our work in the Video and Oral History Projects as well as other programs and initiatives in the Department. Stay tuned for more information on the many upcoming events commemorating the 40th Anniversary of Chicano Studies. We will have a year long celebration and commemoration.
More InfoChicano Studies Names New Faculty!
To the students, staff, instructors, faculty affiliates, and friends of Chicano Studies:
I am very pleased to announce that Jimmy Patino has accepted our offer to join us as an Assistant Professor of Chicano Studies in the coming year!
Professor Patino is currently teaching at St. Cloud State University. He recently completed his PhD in History at the University of California at San Diego, where he completed a dissertation entitled "A Time for Resistance;" Globalization, Undocumented Immigration and the Chicana/o Movement in the San Diego Borderlands."
His teaching and research interests illuminate how issues of migration, cross-group interaction and social movements underscore the global forces that transform American society. He will teach a variety of courses in History, Cultural Studies, Borderlands Studies, and Chicana/o-Latina/o Politics.
Please feel free to drop him a line extending him a warm welcome at jcpatino@stcloudstate.edu
Muchisimas gracias to Professors Park, Onishi, Squires, and O'Connell for serving on our search committee. Just as importantly I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to EVERYONE who took time to meet with candidates, attend their lectures, and to provide feedback which was crucial in making this search successful. We look forward to starting next year with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to our educational and community engagement mission.
Best,Louis
More InfoSummer and fall registration opens!
We are excited to offer a full range of classes in the Department of Chicano Studies for fall 2011. Please see One Stop's Class Schedule for more information, but for a brief glance at upcoming classes, see below.
Summer classes include:
CHIC 3507W Introduction to Chicana/o Literature
CHIC 3771 Latino Social Power and Social Movements in the U.S.
CHIC 3900 Topics in Chicano Studies-May Term Trip to the Texas-Mexico Border Region
Chicano Studies Fall 2011 Course ScheduleCHIC 1102 Latinos in the United States: Culture and Citizenship
12:45 P.M. - 02:00 P.M., T-THCHIC 1275 / 3275 Service Learning in the Chicano/Latino Community
Mondays 03:35 P.M. - 05:35 P.M. Instructor: Kathleen GanleyCHIC 1902 Freshman Seminar
4:00 P.M. - 05:15 P.M. T-TH
Instructor: Edén TorresCHIC 3212 Chicana Studies: La Chicana in Contemporary Society
T-TH 11:15 A.M. - 12:30 P.MCHIC 3221 Introduction to Chicana/o Cultural Studies: Barrio Culture and the Aesthetics of Everyday Life
T-TH 09:45 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.CHIC 3375 Folklore of Greater Mexico
Thursday 06:00 P.M. - 08:30 P.MCHIC 3444 Chicana and Chicano History: 1821-1945
T-TH 02:30 P.M. - 03:45 P.M. Instructor: Jimmy PatiñoCHIC 3507W Introduction to Chicana/o Literature
Wednesday 06:00 P.M. - 08:30 P.M.CHIC 3507W Introduction to Chicana/o Literature
M,W 12:45 P.M. - 02:00 P.M. Instructor: Yolanda PadillaCHIC 3852 Chicana/o Politics
Tuesday 06:00 P.M. - 08:30 P.M.CHIC 4232 Chicana/o - Latina/o Gender and Sexuality Studies
Monday 06:30 P.M. - 08:30 P.M. Instructor: Reina RodriguezCHIC 4275 Theory in Action: Community Engagement in a Social Justice Framework
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T-TH 04:00 P.M. - 05:15 P.M. Instructor: Lisa Sass Zaragoza2011 Scholarships for Chicano Studies Majors!
The Guillermo Rojas Scholarship
Named after Professor Emeritus of Chicano Studies, the $500 Rojas Scholarship provides final semester assistance for students majoring in Chicano Studies with 21 hours or less of coursework to complete. This award acknowledges the perseverance of a student and an on-going commitment to intellectual growth of as a way of honoring the many years of service that Professor Rojas gave to students and the Department of Chicano Studies at UMTC. It is designed to provide assistance to those deserving students who need support to complete their undergraduate degree. Students will be asked to submit an application that includes a 2 page single-spaced essay on how being a Chicano Studies major has contributed to their intellectual growth. Submissions due by April 29, 2011. Students intending to graduate during the 2011 calendar year are eligible to apply. The winning essay will be posted on the Department website.Best Chicano Studies Essay Award
This $500 scholarship will be awarded to the best essay written by a Chicano Studies major, within the current academic year (Summer 2010-Spring 2011), for a Chicano Studies class. Students must submit the assignment guidelines with the essay. Papers should be at least 5 pages in length and as long as allowed by the assignment. A nomination letter from the instructor of the course for which the paper was written must accompany the submission. Submissions due by April 29, 2011. Winning essay will be posted on the department website.¡Adelante! Scholarship for Newly Declared Majors
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This scholarship is intended to support new majors who have declared in the current academic year (Summer 2010-Spring 2011). Students will be asked to submit an application that includes a 2 page single-spaced essay on why they decided to become a Chicano Studies major and what they hope this degree will help them achieve. Submissions due by April 29, 2011. The winning essay will be posted on the department website.MN DREAM Students Break Hunger Strike in DC After Vote
Five Minnesota youth participated in a hunger strike to pressure the US Senate to vote on the DREAM ACT, which would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented students who attend college or join the military. The House passed their version of the bill with a vote of 216-198. The Senate's vote failed to materialize by five votes on Saturday December 18th.The hunger strikers went to Washington DC to connect with other DREAM Act students and hunger strikers from around the country to pressure senators before the vote on the 18th.
The MN DREAMERS returned from Washington DC on Monday the 20th, where they were met by family and community members at El Colegio in south Minneapolis. They reported back on what happened in DC and community members offered support and acknowledgment for the students' actions, efforts and sacrifices. While the vote was indeed extremely disappointing, students describe their morale as high and determination stronger than ever.
The Department of Chicano Studies is proud to support these youth and others working towards comprehensive immigration reform, college access for all and in general a strong and vibrant community.
More InfoChuy Negrete Performs at Community Partner Sites
The Department of Chicano Studies in collaboration with La Raza Student Cultural Center brought nationally recognized ethno-musicologist, Dr. Chuy Negrete to the Twin Cities to perform at the University of MN and at the Department's community partner sites last week. Dr. Negrete began his tour at Academia Cesar Chavez in St. Paul where he wowed the 4th, 5th and 6th graders and told of the Mexican Revolution through the corrido. His next stop occurred at El Colegio, a 9-12th grade charter high school school in south MPLS. He connected both with the students and high school staff on various issues and finally, Dr. Negrete finished his brief, but impactful tour at La Raza Student Cultural Center for a late afternoon performance. Dr. Negrete is truly an exceptional performer with his keen knowledge of history and ability to relate that through the corrido across such a wide age span.
This is the second time Chuy has been to the University of MN in recent years. He came in 2006 to perform at Paso Al Futuro, the annual Bilingual Bicultural Graduation Celebration here at the U of M and was also greatly received then. ¡Thank you Chuy--safe travels y..orale Raza!
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Senior Paper Presentations - Congratulations!
On Friday, December 10th, Karen A. Davidshofer and Leah Mathews publicly presented their Chicano Studies Senior papers to faculty, family, and friends in Scott Hall 2. Karen presented her research (also her University Honors thesis) entitled: "Comfort, Rechazo, y Algo Mas: An Analysis of Chicana Experiences of Belonging." Leah presented research based on her senior paper, entitled "Resisting Cultural Homogenization: How Dual Media Citizenship Enables Selena Gomez to Break Disney's Hegemonic Spell." Both students impressed the audience with their insights into cultural and social dynamics and the originality of their research.
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Spring 2011 Chicano Studies Course Offerings
Spring registration begins November 9th!
This Spring, the Department of Chicano Studies is excited to offer the following courses:
Chic 1275/3275 - Service Learning in the Chicano/Latino Community (Civ)
Chic 3213 - Chicano Music and Art (Pending - AH, DSJ)
Chic 3223 - Chicana/o and Latina/o Representation in Film (AH, DSJ)
Chic 3374 - Migrant Farmworkers in the US: Families, Work, and Advocacy (Civ)
Chic 3446 - Chicana/o History II: WWII, El Movimiento, and the New Millennium (His, DSJ)
Chic 3452 - Xicana/Indigena Studies: History, Culture, and Politics (DSJ)
Chic 3507W - Intro to Chicana/o Literature (Lit, DSJ, WI)
Chic 3672 - Chicana/o Experience in the Midwest (DSJ)
Chic 3752 - Chicanas and Chicanos in Contemporary Society (DSJ)
Chic 3900 - CASA SOL Leadership
Chic 3900 - Mexican Revolution in the Greater Mexican ImaginationTo learn more about our course offerings, including times and course descriptions, click here.
Also, learn more about the Chicano Studies major and minor here. Contact Department Adviser Nicole Clements at clem0078@umn.edu with any questions regarding course offerings or degree programs.
More InfoEthnic Studies Week October 1-7
Twin Cities Ethnic Studies Week Goals & Objectives
Ethnic Studies Week in the Twin Cities grew out of a national call to defend Ethnic Studies across the nation. The goal is to defend multicultural education and reject the recent legislative and philosophical assault against ethnic studies and ethnic communities by increasing social awareness through purposeful educational events, demonstrations and workshops.
Earlier this year Jan Brewer, the governor of Arizona, signed HB 2281, which banned the teaching of Ethnic Studies in Arizona public schools. This legislation authored by State Superintendent of Public Instruction specifically targets Mexican American Studies in the Tucson Unified School District. During this same time frame the Texas State Board of Education drastically revised its social studies textbook standards to dilute civil rights history and exclude many aspects of the historical and social contributions of people of color. These monumental legislative events, and the ideological thinking that fuels them, illustrates that Ethnic Studies programs and multicultural education are under national assault.
This is a recurring generational struggle which began during the Civil Rights Era when students from across the country stood up to university administrators and faculty to demand racial, ethnic and gender specific programming as central to a quality education. We are asking people in schools and in communities across the Twin Cities to do what might amount to civil disobedience in the Arizona public schools: participate in Ethnic Studies events and engage in the types of cultural learning censored by others. The goal of this initiative is simple: to show that instead of banning Ethnic Studies, we should defend and expand access to multi-cultural education. We invite you to join us!Twin Cities Ethnic Studies Week Committee
Casa Sol group attends annual retreat
Begun as a way to make the university stronger, to combat isolation and provide support for first year students, this year marks the 6th cohort of Soler@s here at the University of MN, TC.
All students take a Chicano Studies class-History, Identity and Culture the first semester and a class on leadership during the spring semester. Additionally, there are various activities, programs and projects the students work on during the semester which helps to support, ground and build a strong sense of community on campus between and amongst the group.
One component includes the annual retreat to a local YMCA camp for a day long retreat. Stay tuned for photos and more updates!
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Recent Events
Talk on "What's wrong with Arizona" by Sandra Soto
Join us on Thursday April 21st, 2011 from 6:00pm-8:00pm in Walter Library Room 405. During this talk Sandra K. Soto will describe and analyze what her colleague K. Tsianina Lomawaima has aptly coined Arizona's "regressive suit of legislation". She also will talk about the usefulness of queer theory and queer politics, not only for reading the norms produced by --and productive of-- the legistation, but for questioning some of the "family values" based activist responses to the legislation.
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See you there!40th Anniversary Meeting Thursday April 21st
Join us to help us plan Chicano Studies 40th Anniversary events for next year!
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The Meeting is this week April 21st from 4:30pm-6:00pm in Walter Library Room 405.
All are welcome to attend.Academia Cesar Chavez to Campus
ACC visits the University of MN on April 29 from 10am-3pm.
More InfoDepartment's Migrant Class Students Organize Farmworker Forum
From Field to Table: Workers in the Food System Making Change
Date: Monday, April 26, 2010
Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: Saint Paul Public Library,
Riverview Branch
1 E. George St, West Saint PaulJoin the University of Minnesota's Department of Chicano Studies and Centro Campesino in discussing the current agricultural system from a global, national and local lens. Learn more about farmworker efforts and local structures that lead to a more just food system.
Guest Speakers:- Ernesto Velez Bustos, Community Organizer at Centro Campesino
- Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin, Director of the Rural Enterprise Center, Founder of the Fair Trade Federation, Creator of Peace Coffee
- Erik Esse, Membership and Marketing Director of IFP (Independent Feature Project) Minnesota
- Lisa Sass Zaragoza, Outreach Coordinator, University of Minnesota Department of Chicano Studies
Arrive at 6:30 to purchase products in support of farmworker organizing, learn more about the cause and participate in an interactive trivia session. Fair trade coffee and cookies will be served.This event is part of an annual series of events entitled: "Untold Stories" presented by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library. This year the theme is food production and the struggle for justice; the people who put food on our tables.
Here is the link to the full webpage:
http://www.thefriends.org/untold.htm.This event is free to the public, all are welcome!
More InfoCasa Sol trip-The Windy City
From Friday March 26th-Sunday March 28th, 2010 Soler@s and staff drove to Chi-town for a fabulous learning and group bonding experience! Sights visited included: National Mexican Art Museum, Casa Aztlan, Bombazo-Afro-Caribbean drumming, Millennium Park and Chinatown. What a whirlwind! More pics soon!
Casa Sol 2010 at Millennium Park and Chinatown
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CARAVAN TO FARMWORKER FREEDOM MARCH in FL
Hey everyone,
Fair Food Twin Cities is organizing a caravan from the Twin Cities to join
the Farmworker Freedom March in Florida (see below for more info)...anyone
interested in joining? Or know anyone who might be? We're exploring funding options now...CARAVAN TO FARMWORKER FREEDOM MARCH
Fair Food Twin Cities is organizing a caravan to drive to the Farmworker
Freedom March with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) in Florida. The
march is April 16-18�the caravan will leave the Twin Cities on Thursday,
April 15 in the morning, and get back on Monday, April 19 in the evening. It
will cost $225-300 per person (including food, lodging, transportation and
everything), depending on how many people join us. If you would like to
join the march, please contact Brian Payne ASAP to reserve a spot for
yourself.For more information on the march, see the CIW website at:
http://www.ciw-online.org/freedom_march/index.htmlFor more information on the Twin Cities caravan, contact Brian Payne at
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612-859-5750, or brianpayneyvp@gmail.comNational Farmworker Awareness Week is March 29-April 2!
Commemorating the March 31st birthday of the great labor leader Cesar Chavez, organizations across the country are hosting a week of action to bring attention to the plight of farmworkers in the United States. Through National Farmworker Awareness Week 2010, we celebrate 11 years of bringing together thousands of people to take action and raise awareness about the conditions of the men, women, and children who harvest our food. We take action to call for dignity now.
Farmworker advocates, religious leaders, students, labor activists, consumers and environmental health professionals will host rallies, marches, petition drives, panel discussions, film screenings and other events to recognize the vital contributions of agricultural workers to our economy.
Here at the University of MN, students in Chicano Studies class 3374, Migrant Farmworkers: Family, Work and Advocacy in collaboration with La Raza student cultural center will host a film series, an educational event in St. Paul and support the Dine with Dignity campaign as part of this year's actions. Contact Israel Pinner (pinne003@umn.edu) or Megan Hines (hine0080@umn.edu) for more informaton.
More InfoSaturday, Dec. 12 from 4-7pm.
"¿Quien es la Virgen de Guadalupe?" "Who is the Virgin of Guadalupe?"
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Dia De Los Muertos Photos 2009
On Friday October 30th, the annual celebration of Dia de los muertos took place on campus beginning with the dedication of altars. The altars were located in Scott Hall, Appleby Hall and La Raza Cultural Student Center. Each of them were built by current Casa Sol students, Chicano Studies classes, and members of La Raza according to this year's theme of "Body Counts." Each group took an approach to interpreting the theme and choreographed their altar accordingly to honor those past and present Mexican-Americans who have sacrificed themselves and their bodies throughout history in various ways. After the procession and dedication, the dancers from Kalpulli KetzalCoatlicue performed outside Coffman Memorial Union. After the performance, students and observers enjoyed tamales and pan de muerto in La Raza. The event was a huge success and we had a great turn out this year. Thanks to all who participated and contributed to this year's event and hope to see you all next year!
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Lunch with Faculty Featuring Dr. Lori Rodriguez 10/23/2009
La Raza Student Cultural Center invites you to a lunch meeting with new Chicano Studies faculty member Dr. Lori Rodriguez!
Friday, October 23rd
11:30 A.M.
La Raza - 211 Coffman UnionPlease join us for an informal conversation with Dr. Lori Rodriguez over lunch that we will provide.
Questions? Contact:
This event is free and open to the public so bring your friends!
Edwing Bonfil at bonfi003@umn.edu or
Jesús Estrada-Pérez at estr0044@umn.edu More InfoChicana/o Studies Student & Faculty at the State Fair 2009
Here are some pics of Chicana/o Studies Students and Faculty at the Minnesota State Fair!
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Felicidades!
The Department of Chicano Studies would like to congratulate Lisa Sass Zaragoza for winning the 2009 Outstanding Community Service Award from the University of Minnesota's Office for Public Engagement.The award, established in 1999 by President Robert H. Bruininks, recognizes members of the University community who have devoted their time and talent to making substantial and enduring contributions to the community, to improving public life and to the well-being of society. Their contributions and accomplishments have resulted in long-term and lasting changes for the public good and demonstrate an unusual commitment to community engagement.
Lisa was nominated for her role in planning and establishing the Minnesota Network of Latinos in Higher Education.
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