Ohio State to celebrate 24th Annual Hispanic Awareness Month
COLUMBUS –A multicultural conference for students, cultural dances and art exhibits, and Hispanic-related discussions and events are among the highlights of The Ohio State University’s 24th Annual Hispanic Awareness Month celebration, from April 1 to 27.
Carmen Alvarez-Breckenridge, coordinator of Hispanic Student Services, said it is important for the community to become educated on issues of interest to the Hispanic population since it is the fastest growing minority group in the United States.
“This celebration is important to the Ohio State community because the university espouses diversity,” Alvarez-Breckenridge said. “The events are intended to help build bridges of understanding of cultural diversity as well as to educate the Columbus and larger community to the diversity inherent in the Hispanic Latino/Latina culture.”
Christine Ballengee Morris, interim director of Ohio State’s Multicultural Center, said the center is designed to be a venue for the Ohio State and Columbus communities to explore issues affecting specific cultural groups.
“The civil rights’ movements illustrated the importance of creating awareness of multiple cultures and celebrating them,” she said. “The periods of awareness allow these issues to be explored in an intercultural way.”
Among the events of Hispanic Awareness Month 2002 are:
Tuesday, April 2
Office of Hispanic Student Services’ formal opening of the 24th Annual Celebration of Hispanic Awareness Month, 4 to 6 p.m., Faculty Club, 181 S. Oval Drive. Join organizers for an afternoon celebration of dancing to the rhythms of Yumbambé.
April 9 through 30
Latino Migration Story Project 2002, Bricker Hall, 190 N. Oval Mall. The kickoff event is set from 5 to 7 p.m. The Latino Migration Story Project has been established to increase awareness in the general community about the numbers and background of Latinos currently residing in Ohio. The Project has collected the history of the various migration patterns throughout Ohio, which will be presented in this exhibition. These stories of struggle, survival and success will provide a solid source of strength and endurance.
Latino Migration Story Project 2002 -- Art Show Opening and Reception, 5 to 7 p.m., Bricker Hall, 190 N. Oval Mall. Come to the reception for refreshments and live music by Calido Viento at the opening reception of the Latino Migration Story Project 2002.
Friday, April 19
"Images of You" Multicultural Conference for Students,
The Office of Housing and Residence Education invites students to attend the Second Annual "Images of You" Multicultural Conference for Students on April 19 and 20; "We're In This Together." This year's conference will be an unforgettable diversity experience. By taking full advantage of this rich opportunity for personal and professional growth, students will be able to create cross-cultural connections, enhance your leadership skills and create statewide support networks. For more information about the conference, see http://www.osuhousing.com/images . Please register early because spaces are limited.
Saturday, April 20
The First Ohio Latinamericanist Conference, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hyatt Regency Columbus, 350 N. High St. The Ohio State University Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) invites all Ohio Latinamericanist scholars, educators and students to participate in an interdisciplinary meeting on the state of Latin American studies and research in Ohio. The keynote speaker will be Jorge Bustamante, associate director of Border and Inter-American Affairs and the Eugene Conley Professor of Sociology at the University of Notre Dame. Plenary speaker will be Thomas Walker, Director of Latin American Studies, Ohio University. For more information contact the OSU Center for Latin American Studies at (614) 688-4285 or clas@osu.edu.
Saturday, April 27
Servicio a la Comunidad, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join organizers for this community outreach event. Buses will leave the Ohio Union at 10 a.m. and go to Lincoln Park West Apartments where people will be participating in a community service project. If you are interested in participating, register with Hispanic Student Services, 688-8449, or stop by our office on the 4th floor of the Ohio Union. This program is open to everyone.
For a complete list of activities and events, see http://www.osu.edu/units/ir/ess/HSS/Hispanic%20Awareness%20Month.htm.
