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EL CENTRO NEWSLETTER Winter 2024

Cover photo by Allison Villarreal

@ally.is.on

ON THE COVER

COVER IMAGE: “Que dulce” 8x10 Photo Print

Allison Villarreal allyison.com

Allison Villarreal was born in the United States and raised in Mexico. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from the University of Texas in San Antonio. Her passion for illustration began in 2020, during the pandemic lockdown, while she was in isolation in her small studio. The studio became her sanctuary, where she channeled her emotions, aspirations, and determination through art. Allison's illustrations are inspired by nostalgia, drawing from her fondest memories of growing up. Whenever she feels sad or anxious, she turns to these memories for comfort and solace. Her goal is to convey these emotions in her illustrations. For Allison, her generation, particularly those who had to leave their childhood country before they were adults, serves as a bridge between their past and future. However, this can leave them feeling lonely and disconnected, unable to fully belong to any one place. Allison wants to create a community of people who share similar memories and experiences and connect with them through her art.

IN THIS ISSUE... 3

About | Center for Latino Research and Latin American and Latino Studies

DPAM - Upcoming Exhibitions

Letters from the CLR Director & LALS Chair

Museum Tours - Event Recap

CLR Advisory Committee and LALS Faculty

Save the date: A reading & conversation with Cristina Rivera Garza

Faculty & Staff Announcements

Latinx Student SPOTLIGHT MESA Vice-President: Lila Nambo

LALS Spotlight: Meloddye CarpioRíos

FERIA! - Event Recap

Social Transformation Research Collaborative Updates

Book Announcements

From the Diálogo Archives

Tertulia - Event Recap

Reading & conversation with Myriam Gurba

2023 - 2024 CLR Faculty Fellows Spotlight: Jessica Polos

LALS Course Schedule Spring 2024

CLR/LALS External Advisory Board Members

Save the date: Poesía en Abril

CLR/LALS External Advisory Board Members' Spotlight: Maria G. Arias

Thank you from the Editors

Financial Wellness Workshop Event Recap

LALS & CLR Open House Event Recap

CLR MISSION STATEMENT

The Center for Latino Research (CLR) strives to open and sustain dialogues which foster the empowerment and advancement of Latinx communities. To that end, the CLR creates learning opportunities for students and supports scholars in their research, while forging collaborative relationships with local, national, and international research partners. We also publish an award-winning scholarly journal, Diálogo, and sponsor many activities on campus, including film series and speaker series.

ABOUT

LATIN AMERICAN & LATINO STUDIES The Department of Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS) explores the myriad contributions of Latin Americans and Latinx people to the global community. The department’s programs emphasize the profound linkages that have emerged between Latin America and the United States, particularly through the construction of Latinx communities in the U.S. We also critically analyze the complex intersections with Indigenous, African, European, Semitic, Arab, and Asian communities throughout the Americas.

Edited and Designed by:

Published by:

Josué Paniagua Sunidhi Kulkarni

The Center for Latino Research and The Department of Latin American and Latino Studies at DePaul University

Letter from the CLR Director

Letter from the LALS Chair

Estimades lectores,

Querides lectores,

Vivimos en un mundo de crisis constantes – guerras, genocidio, racismo, migraciones forzadas, prohibición de libros, desigualdad económica, la revigoración de ideologías fascistas, el cambio climático. ¡No nos faltan crisis, disrupciones, inestabilidades, ni cambios profundos! Las crisis pueden provocar parálisis, desorientación, la pérdida de esperanza. Pero la palabra “crisis” se deriva de la palabra griega, “krisis,” que a su vez proviene del verbo “krinien,” que significa “decidir” y “separar.” Entonces, cada momento de crisis contiene también una oportunidad crítica para (re)definir el problema y tomar decisiones posiblemente liberatorias.

Espero que esta nueva edición de El Centro les encuentre muy bien. Ya falta menos para empezar a disfrutar un poco del sol de primavera en Chicago, entonces, ¡a no desesperar!

We at DePaul are all as busy as we ever have been in trying to make a critical difference in a troubled world. We hope you will join us at our upcoming programs. STRC and CLR Fellow Jacqui Lazú has joined forces with the Black Panther Party for a community teaching and learning day on Feb. 17th. Writer Myriam Gurba is visiting on Feb 19th. And Cristina Rivera Garza will be visiting on April 17th. Important thanks and congratulations are due to our CLR/LALS External Advisory Board, which collectively donated $25,000 to establish scholarships for students in Latin American and Latino Studies courses. We are deeply grateful for their impressive generosity, which is creating opportunities for our students. We can all make a critical difference! Please let us know how the CLR can help.

Durante estos primeros meses del quarter de invierno, el departamento estuvo con un calendario bastante ocupado de reuniones y temas administrativos, pero también con nuevos proyectos. Entre ellos, es un placer para mi contarles que LALS ha sido convocado para brindar apoyo institucional al Museo Nacional de Arte Mexicano (NMMA) para desarrollar 6 pasantías (internships) de un año, posiblemente renovables, en las áreas de Colección Permanente, Arte Visual, Educación y en el programa de arte del grupo Yollocalli. Esto ha podido realizarse gracias al apoyo financiero del Institute of Museum and Library Services y su programa, American Latino Museum Internship and Fellowship. En estos momentos, LALS y el Museo se encuentran en la fase de planificación de cada una de las pasantías, pero se espera que cada una de ellas comience en octubre de este año. Pronto estaremos enviándoles más información. Por último, quería anunciarles que entre el 18 al 20 de abril, como todos los años, se realizará el festival de Poesía en abril en DePaul y el Instituto Cervantes. Más de 10 poetas provenientes de distintas partes de Latinoamérica, del Caribe y de España estarán participando de este evento cultural y multitudinario. Esperamos que puedan asistir y enviaremos más información apenas tengamos más detalles.

- Bill Johnson Gonzalez ¡Hasta pronto! -Carolina Sternberg

CLR ADVISORY COMMITTEE Marisa Alicea, Professor, Vincent DePaul Professor School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Jesús Pando, Associate Professor, Chair Physics and Astrophysics, College of Science and Health

Carolina Barrera Tobón, Associate Professor Modern Languages

José Perales, Interim Vice President Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity

Ionit Behar, Curator | DePaul Art Museum

Rose Spalding, Professor, Vincent DePaul Professor Political Science

Martha Martinez-Firestone, Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Program | Sociology Julie Moody-Freeman, Associate Professor, African and Black Diaspora Studies | Director, Center for Black Diaspora

Carolina Sternberg, Associate Professor, Chair Latin American and Latino Studies Joe R. Tafoya, Assistant Professor | Political Science

Jacqueline Lazú, Associate Professor, Vincent DePaul Professor | Modern Languages

LALS FACULTY Core Faculty Carolina Sternberg, Associate Professor, Chair Latin American and Latino Studies

Jesse Mumm, Professional Lecturer Latin American and Latino Studies

Lourdes Torres, Professor, Vincent de Paul Professor Latin American and Latino Studies

Meloddye Carpio Ríos, Social Transformation Research Collaborative (STRC) Post-Doctoral Fellow | Latin American and Latino Studies

Yoalli Rodriguez Aguilera, Assistant Professor Latin American and Latino Studies

Affiliated Faculty Marisa Alicea, Professor, Vincent DePaul Professor School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Juan Mora-Torres, Associate Professor History

Luisela Alvaray, Associate Professor Media and Cinema Studies

Heather Montes-Ireland, Assistant Professor Women's and Gender Studies

Glen Carman, Associate Professor Modern Languages

Vincent Peña, Assistant Professor Journalism and Sports Communication, College of Communication

Delia Cosentino, Professor History of Art and Architecture

Xavier Perez, Assistant Professor Criminology

Rocío Ferreira, Associate Professor Modern Languages Department Chair, Women's and Gender Studies

Monica Reyes, Assistant Professor Writing, Rhetoric and Discourse

Bill Johnson González, Associate Professor, English Director, Center for Latino Research

Ana Schaposchnik, Associate Professor History

Jacqueline Lazú, Associate Professor, Vincent DePaul Professor Modern Languages

Jose Soltero, Professor Sociology

Jordan Levy, Assistant Professor Anthropology

Sonia Soltero, Professor, Chair Leadership, Language and Curriculum, College of Communication

Martha Martinez-Firestone, Associate Professor, Sociology Director, Undergraduate Sociology Program

Rose J. Spalding, Professor, Vincent DePaul Professor Political Science

Susana S. Martínez, Associate Professor, Modern Languages Director, Peace, Justice & Conflict Studies Program

Joe R. Tafoya, Assistant Professor Political Science

Elizabeth Millán, Professor, Chair Philosophy

Christopher Tirres, Associate Professor, Vincent de Paul Professor Religious Studies; Inaugural Endowed Professor, Diplomacy and Interreligious Engagement

Faculty & Staff Announcements

JACQUELINE LAZÚ As an STRC and CLR Faculty Fellow, I've collaborated on transformative projects centered on the Chicago Young Lords Organization (YLO). Working with original members, CLR colleagues, and the library’s Special Collections Department, we established the Young Lords Collection over several decades, which heavily informs my current book projects and public history initiatives. Last year, as a Presidential Diversity Fellow, I coordinated the installation of a bronze historical marker commemorating the Young Lords’ takeover of the McCormick Seminary Building, now the DePaul School of Music. It is scheduled to be unveiled in a public event on May 14, 2024. While building my skills in collection development, I curated the historical exhibit "Encendidas: Women of the Chicago Young Lords 1965-Present," which highlights the pivotal role women have played in the movement. These efforts are part of a multi-year plan to develop programming on the Young Lords' Lincoln Park origins.

ROCÍO FERREIRA In fall quarter 2023, Dr. Rocío Ferreira begun the Social Transformation Research Collaborative fellowship (2023-2024) for her project entitled Women Shoot: Poetics of Political Violence in Contemporary Peruvian Culture. She has presented her work at various scholarly conferences and co-published “Nuevas perspectivas sobre la participación de la mujer senderista en Danza inmóvil (2022) de Fabiola Pinel” in the forthcoming book Violencia de estado en el Perú (2024). This past November, Dr. Ferreira was invited to the prestigious Hay Festival of Literature & Arts in Arequipa, Perú, where she led a series of dialogues with the world's greatest writers and thinkers Laura Alcoba, Mohammed El Morabet, Djamila Ribeiro and Marina Perezagua. As the DePaul University director of the annual Festival Poesía en Abril, Dr. Ferreira is currently co-organizing its 16th edition.

JORDAN LEVY Dr. Levy is very excited to be affiliated with LALS as an Assistant Professor of Anthropology. He is a sociocultural anthropologist with a PhD from the University of Western Ontario (Canada), and does ethnographic research in Honduras—focused on policies of governance, political culture, and international migration. Jordan comes to DePaul most recently from the University of Connecticut, but also after eight years at Pacific Lutheran University (Washington State), where he co-founded a Latino Studies program. His most recent research projects have been faculty-student collaborations among the Honduran and Salvadoran migrant community in the Seattle-Tacoma area. He also regularly provides expert witness testimony for immigrant rights organizations, law firms, and law schools—which involves writing sworn affidavits in support of Hondurans who flee contexts of violence and seek asylum abroad. He is currently working on a book project about resistance, state formation, and migration in Honduras since the 2009 coup.

Faculty & Staff Announcements

HEATHER MONTES-IRELAND As a 2023-24 HumanitiesX Faculty Fellow with DePaul's Experiential Humanities Collaborative, Dr. Heather Montes Ireland is collaboratively developing a course with Professor Barrie Borich, English, on the year's theme of Democracy and Rights. Their course, "Do Say Gay: Banned Books and LGBTQ Freedoms," will be offered to DePaul students in the Spring Quarter of 2024. Partnering with the Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, the class will link current challenges to LGBTQ+ rights and freedom to intandem moves to remove LGBTQ-themed books from libraries and schools, to explore the relationship between the printed word and image, censorship, democracy, and queer repression. Additionally, Dr. Montes Ireland's chapter, "'Don't Say Gay' and Can't be Trans: Behind the Anti-LGBTQ+ Schooling Agenda," is forthcoming this spring.

JESSE MUMM Jesse Mumm continues with his courses on Race & Space, and The Puerto Rican Experience, and his course on The Makings of Justice in Chicago recently hosted guest speaker, Antonio Gutiérrez, of Organized Communities Against Deportations. As a member of the 26th Ward Zoning Advisory Committee, he has been able to speak out to prevent zoning conversions boosting luxury consumption and locally unaffordable housing in Humboldt Park, and to support and approve housing to keep immigrant and low-income families in the neighborhood. He looks forward to devoting time this late winter to the passage of the Bring Chicago Home ordinance on the March ballot, which would establish a permanent fund to provide shelter for unhoused Chicagoans—and inviting his DePaul students to join in the cause.

LOURDES TORRES Lourdes Torres was on the panel, “Antonia Pantoja, A builder of Institutions” as part of the Antonia Pantoja Centennial Celebration at the Center for Puerto Rican Studies, CUNY, in September. She presented “Are you Hispanic /Latina/o/x? Debates about Labels and the Significance of Panethnic Identity in Our Times” as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series at Shawnee State University. Finally, she was a Keynote Speaker for Northeastern Illinois University's Hispanic Serving Institution Week, where she presented “Spanish language practices and ideologies in Chicago: Implications for HSIs.” She looks forward to presenting her paper, “Placemaking in the Latinx LGBTQ community: Toward a history of LLEGÓ,” at the Latino Studies Association meeting in Tempe, Arizona, in April.

Faculty & Staff Announcements DELIA COSENTINO Delia Cosentino is spending time this winter digging into the archives for her ongoing project on the Tlaxcalan warrior Tlahuicole, who became a symbol of Mexican national identity in the 19th century. She is presenting a paper on the topic for the Midwest Art History Society Conference in March, and wishes to thank her research assistant Amanda DeLeon for helping her stay on task. She is also discussing her recent book, Resurrecting Tenochtitlan: Imagining the Aztec Capital in Modern Mexico City (UT Press, 2023) in a colloquium at the Newberry Library in February and another one at UIC in April.

ELIZABETH MILLAN Elizabeth will give a talk on Alexander von Humboldt and his Chimborazo Map, “Alexander von Humboldt’s Chimborazo Map and the Aesthetics of Environmental Mapping.” This paper will be presented at a panel at the American Philosophical Association, Central Division Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, on February 23, 2024.

XAVIER PEREZ Xavier Perez will be co-authoring a paper with one of his inside students at Stateville Correctional Center. Xavier teaches through DePaul’s Inside Out Prison Exchange Program. His paper was accepted into an edited volume titled “Intersectionality in Convict Criminology: Voices from Within.”

ANA SCHAPOSCHNIK During the Fall of 2023, Ana Schaposchnik published a selection of primary sources (she transcribed and translated to English): “Mencía de Luna, A Woman in front of the Lima Inquisition (Peru 1600s)” in Jews Across the Americas, A Source Book, 1492-present.

El Centro, Winter 2024

LALS SPOTLIGHT Dr. Meloddye Carpio-Ríos Interview Conducted by Sara Luz Torres Dr. Meloddye Carpio Ríos (She/Her/Ella) is a Peruvian scholar born in the border town of Tacna, between Perú and Chile. She migrated to the United States with her mother and sister when she was fifteen. Dr. Carpio Ríos completed her bachelor’s and master’s in California and came to Chicago to pursue a Ph.D. in Latin American Cultural Studies with a Concentration in Gender and Women's Studies at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Chicago has now been her home for seven years and it’s where she has found a great community with whom she collaborates and learns from. Her interests and research have always centered around Latin American and United States Latine communities. She believes her journey started as a way to understand who she is, her community, and what her place—as a first-generation student—is in academia in the United States. She finds great joy in working closely with her students to help them develop a clearer sense of themselves and the world in the process. What has been your experience as a Social

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accomplish your goals, creo que eso es lo más importante. Yes, you can be responsible, organized, studious, resilient but knowing the reason behind your academic goals and understanding what you want to achieve and why makes all the difference.

Find what motivates you and why you want to accomplish your goals, creo que eso es lo más importante.

Change your mindset from viewing school as a chore to understanding you have the privilege of studying and cannot forsake your opportunities and goals. At least for me, it worked that way. Another piece of advice that I could give is to find what brings you joy in the work you do inside and outside academia and practicing it. Whether that is knitting, running, activism, watching films, spending quality time with your family, there must be a balance between your schoolwork and personal life. I know it’s easier said

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decolonization while advancing and grounding scholarly understanding in the particulars of language, literature, culture, history, and region. In addition, the principle of collaboration focuses on sustained dialogues, engaged interactions, and following the leadership of local actors, including researchers, community groups, activists, and civil society who play a central role in the areas being researched. In this way, my academic practices reflect a stronger commitment to the areas and agents I collaborate with while promoting their understanding and future well-being. Within this framework and including creative practices that cross disciplines, I research strategies, movements, and policies in socio-cultural spaces that fight colonialism, racism, and gender inequality, to

Dr. Meloddye Carpio-Ríos

El Centro, Winter 2024

Social Transformation Research Collaborative Updates From Program Coordinator for the Social Transformation Research Collaborative, Alejandra Delgadillo We’re excited to announce that our third Summer Institute for New Students is underway! This year, we will host 20 incoming first-year and transfer students from Sunday, July 21st to Friday, July 26th. The date for our third annual symposium has also been set: Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024. Please stay tuned for more details!

Visit go.depaul.edu/strc>Opportunities>For Current Students>STRC Graduate Research Fellowship for more information on eligibility and the nomination process. The Undergraduate Research Fellowship nomination cycle is open from Monday, February 12th through Monday, March 4th, 2024. Once a student has been nominated, the STRC will contact them directly to submit their application materials. The application cycle opens Monday, March 11th and closes Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024.

We also have some time-sensitive announcements for you: The STRC is now taking applications for its third round of Professional Development Faculty Fellowships. The application portal closes on Friday, February 23rd, 2024.

Eligibility: Academically outstanding rising juniors or seniors who are interested in pursuing a humanities research project on some aspect of the histories and cultures of people of color, in the US or in diaspora, are eligible. Students must also have a declared major or minor in the College of LAS.

Eligibility: LAS tenure-line faculty working in the humanities whose primary scholarly or creative field engages the histories and/or cultures of people of color (in the United States or in diaspora), are eligible to apply. Non-humanities faculty who wish to learn how to incorporate humanities methods, content, and approaches into their scholarship and teaching, are also eligible.

Visit go.depaul.edu/strc>Opportunities>For Current Students>STRC Undergraduate Research Fellowship for more information on eligibility and the nomination process.

Visit go.depaul.edu/strc > Opportunities> For Faculty> STRC Faculty Professional Development Fellowship for more information and/or to apply. Two fellowships will be awarded. The nomination period for the STRC Graduate Student Research Fellowship is open from Monday, February 12th until Monday, March 4th, 2024. Nominations may only be made by full-time faculty in the College of LAS. Once a student has been nominated, the STRC will contact them directly to submit their application materials. The application cycle opens Monday, March 11th, and closes Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024. Eligibility: Academically outstanding MA students in the College of LAS whose primary scholarly or creative field lies within the humanities, and who are working on research and/or creative topics addressing the histories, legacies and/or cultures of people of color in the United States or in diaspora, are eligible for this fellowship.

For more information please contact STRC Coordinator Alex Delgadillo a.delgadillo@depaul.edu

Social Transformation Research Collaborative: Annual Symposium Event Recap - THE RIGHT TO STORY: RACE, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY IN AN AGE OF BANNED BOOKS

On October 19, 2023, the STRC hosted its second annual symposium, “The Right to Story: Race, Gender, and Sexuality in an Age of Banned Books.” Our keynote speaker, Dr. Roderick Ferguson (Yale University), kicked off the day by delivering a gripping and insightful presentation, titled “‘Enter Thou into this Company’: The Imperiled Mysteries of Critical Literacies.” Our cohort of inaugural faculty fellows shared what the STRC fellowships allowed them to accomplish. Dr. Susana Martínez (MOL, PAX) spoke about her project, “Coming of Age(ncy) on the Migrant Trail: Central American and Mexican Adolescent Journeys in Contemporary Young Adult Literature”, and Dr. Chernoh Sesay, Jr. (REL, ABD), talked about his research project, titled “Black Boston and the Making of African-American Freemasonry: Leadership, Religion, and Fraternalism in Early America.” Both Dr. Martínez and Dr. Sesay received the STRC’s year-long research fellowship and have, as a result, neared completion of their book manuscripts.

We were incredibly excited to also hear from our first cohort of undergraduate research fellows, who delivered poster presentations to attendees during the lunch hour. The students and their projects were: Gabriela Córdova, “Calladita no te ves más bonita: Cultural Practices within Latina Women’s Advocacy” Jael Davis, “She Was There Too: Enslaved Black Women, Community, and Agency” Laszlo Katona, “Writing the Wake: Archives, Absence, and Aesthetics in Black CounterHistorical Thought” Krystal Morgan, “A Qualitative Analysis of the U.S. Public Health Service Syphilis Study and Contemporary Issues of Iatrophobia in Black Women” Lila Nambo, “The Bracero Program’s Legacy on Its Participants” Samara Smith, “Disrupting the Gender Script: How Beyoncé’s Lemonade Reimagines a Black Queer Feminine”

Dr. Lourdes Torres (LST, CES) received a Professional Development fellowship for the 20222023 academic year, and she spoke about her project, titled “Toward a History of LLEGÓ” through which she engaged in archival research to document the history and significance of the first national LGBT organization for Latino/as, the National Latino/a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Organization. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Dr. Lori Pierce (ABD) was unable to join us at the symposium. However, on February 1, 2024, Dr. Pierce shared her fellowship work, “DNA Forensics and Genealogy,” at the Center for Latino Research’s Tertulia alongside the 2022-2023 CLR Faculty Fellows. Dr. Pierce's Professional Development fellowship allowed her to delve into the topic of genealogy in the age of DNA test kits and learn what this new trend means for issues of race and ethnicity with the purpose of expanding her courses, which cover topics like race, racism, and identity.

After lunch, our second cohort of graduate research fellows shared their own projects. Laura Carvajal

13 in 2020 and his self-published book, which focuses on the joy and sense of community found at these same demonstrations; Diana Solís shared their work through the decades and spoke of the importance of documenting the work of people on the ground and its influence on younger generations; and last, but certainly not least, author Maggie Tokuda-Hall talked about the barriers she faced during the publication process for her children’s book, Love in the Library, which tells the story of how her grandparents met at a Japanese internment camp during WWII, because of her use of the word “racism.”

(CES) spoke about her project, “Escaping AntiHaitinismo: What it means to be Black in the Dominican Republic,” which delves into the complexities and implications of the experiences of dark-skinned individuals in the Dominican Republic. Shannan Moore (CES) presented her project, titled, “Black Digital Spaces: Theorizing Resistance in the Wake of Racist Technology,” “a comparative analysis of the connections between maroon communities created in the Americas and the Black digital community.”

The STRC is deeply grateful to everyone who participated in our symposium - from presenters, to attendees, to organizers, it took every single one of us to make sure this was a successful event and a memorable experience full of support and positive energy.

We also heard from four students from our 2023 Summer Institute cohort and two student leaders: Taylor Simon, Nicole Silva, Diamond Burks and Karmen Johnson, and Grecia García Camacho and Shafeeqa Aiman Syeda, respectively. They shared what their experiences were like as they learned about the history of marginalized communities in Chicago and visited multiple sites across the city, and spoke about the connections they made during the program. To help us close out what had already been a day full of wonderful and impressive presentations, we were joined by an incredible group of artists and writers. Muralist Darius Dennis, photographer Vashon Jordan, Jr, visual artist Diana Solís, and author Maggie Tokuda-Hall shared some of their work and their experiences as artists of color with the audience members. Mr. Dennis spoke specifically about his work to bring “luxury-brand-level quality” to his large-scale murals of historical figures and events; Mr. Jordan talked about his journey documenting the multiple Black Lives Matter protests in Chicago

Mark your calendars! STRC 2024 SYMPOSIUM

22 October 2024

FELICIDADES to Lourdes Torres, Marisa Alicea and Martha Martinez-Firestone for their recent book publications! Lourdes Torres, Latin American and Latino Studies Marisa Alicea, School of Continuing and Professional Studies Latino Studies: A 20th Anniversary Reader | Palgrave Macmillan, 2024 This book highlights cutting-edge articles published in the journal, Latino Studies, over the last two decades. It features the work of leading and emerging scholars whose innovative theoretical and conceptual contributions to Latinx studies have shaped scholarly debates in our interdisciplinary field and continue to have an impact. This collection embraces a broad range of topics organized in four sections representative of major themes in Latinx studies including: Latinidades/Identidades, Race/Racialization, Migration/Immigration, and Legality/Citizenship/Belonging. Scan the qr code to read more/ get the book:

Lourdes Torres, Latin American and Latino Studies Kim Potowski, Hispanic and Italian Studies, University of Illinois at Chicago Spanish in Chicago | Oxford University Press, 2023 Spanish in Chicago is the first book-length study of Spanish in Chicago, where populations originating in both Mexico and Puerto Rico have lived in contact for generations and Latinos now comprise nearly a third of the population. Identifying Chicago as a rich site for examining language and dialect contact at both community and family levels, Kim Potowski and Lourdes Torres describe the spoken Spanish of Chicago, analyzing patterns of language change and identity constructions and establishing their likely causes. Scan the qr code to read more/ get the book:

Martha Martinez-Firestone, Sociology The Employable Sociologist: A Guide for Undergraduates Palgrave Macmillan, 2023 This book addresses a gap in and outside academia: how to help Sociology undergraduates develop skills for career success while maintaining a sociologically rigorous approach. Matching sociological theories, methods, and knowledge with contemporary capitalistic managerial and work practices, it shows how sociology undergraduates are not only employable but have marketable advantages over graduates of other disciplines. A student following the program embodied in this book will actively nurture a strong sociological identity; create a job search plan integrating personal and disciplinary interests, values, and skills; design job application materials that provide the best fit for specific jobs and organizations; and launch a satisfying career path. Beyond an employment guide, it will facilitate the teaching of career development by Sociology faculty; increase students’ ongoing confidence in their potential; and provide a solid foundation for communicating the transformative power of Sociology to employers and managers in the government, business, and non-profit sectors.

Scan the qr code to read more/ get the book:

THE CENTER FOR LATINO RESEARCH & THE SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE

TERTULIA Event Recap

On Thursday, February 1st, we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the CLR Faculty Fellowship. Our 2022 - 2023 CLR Fellows, Dr. Heather Montes-Ireland (“Decoupling Work and Dignity in Latina Visual Culture”), Dr. Monica Reyes (“Shelter Rhetorics: Storytelling within the U.S. Asylum Process”) and Dr. Ana Schaposchnik (“Did the Holy Office Leave Room for Agency?: The Trial of Faith of Francisco Vázquez (Lima, 1600s)”), and 2022 - 2023 STRC Professional Development Fellow, Dr. Lori Pierce (“DNA Forensics and Genealogy” ), shared highlights of the research completed during their respective fellowships to an audience of faculty, staff and administrators, including LAS Dean, Dr. Guillermo Vásquez de Velasco and Acting Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Programs, Dr. Tracey Lewis-Elligan.

Dr. Monica Reyes’ Research

Dr. Heather Montes-Ireland

Dr. Ana Schaposchnik

El Centro, Winter 2024

2023 - 2024 CLR FACULTY FELLOWS SPOTLIGHT - DR. JESSICA POLOS Interview conducted by Marcela Reales Visbal Dr. Jessica Polos is an Assistant Professor in the Master of Public Health Program. Her research integrates sociological, biosocial and life course approaches. Presently, her research agenda focuses on social determinants of health, particularly on how structural discrimination and social contextual mechanisms generate health disparities over the life course. Her research interests also include maternal-child health and wellbeing, caregiving and intensive parenting, and the intergenerational transmission of health. We discussed her project for the CLR Faculty Fellowship, which focuses on how changes in maternal education and changes in maternal age over time have influenced birth outcomes for Hispanic infants, white infants and black infants. This is my second year at De Paul. I'm originally from the Chicago area, I grew up in the suburbs and after college lived in Chicago for 10 years. Chicago is home, even though I went up to Madison, WI to do my Ph.D. and I've been here for almost 10 years now. I'm coming and going from Chicago right now. My personal connection to Latin America and the Latinx community in the US started when I was taking Spanish in seventh grade and loved learning the language, about Latin America and the Spanish culture. In college, I minored in Spanish, studied in Spain, and did an internship in Spain during my master's program. I've had the privilege of traveling to a variety of Latin American countries. I also volunteered with a migrant worker organization in college, so that put me in touch with the Hispanic migrant

community.

And,

perhaps

most

impactful connection to Latin America is through my husband, who's from Mexico.

Dr. Jessica Polos

I'm a sociologist and a demographer by training, and now I'm in Public Health. Across these disciplines,

variety of areas, including birth outcomes and life

there is work on what's called the Hispanic Health

expectancy. I've always thought it was a very

Paradox. It's this question about how Hispanic

interesting puzzle and now my research has led me

populations in the U.S. tend to have better health

back to it, and I think it's a perfect time to start

outcomes than Black Americans, and even white

engaging this question.

Americans. This is despite encountering all sorts of

The research I'll be doing with the CLR Faculty

inequities and disadvantages in areas such as

Fellowship this year is on the Hispanic Health

income, education, etc., --inequities that look

Paradox, and I’ll be looking at whether differential

similar to those experienced by the Black American

maternal education and age patterns contribute to

community

differences in birth outcomes in Hispanic, white and

compared

socially

advantaged white populations. And this is in a

Black populations in the U.S. I hope to build upon

17 this work in future studies as there's still a lot of

But we're also finding these interesting patterns for

room for research here --no explanations put forth so

Black women where upward social mobility can

far have been able to fully explain the paradox that

potentially have health drawbacks. We all assume

we see.

that

upward

mobility,

for

example

through

education, is going to be this leveling device --that What drew you to Public Health? How has

if you get more education, everything will be better.

your

However, some research has shown that upward

background

disciplines

benefited

different your

academic

career

and

mobility, at least for Black women, is potentially

research?

leading to worse birth outcomes, and this might be

As I mentioned, I'm a sociologist and demographer,

partly

but a lot of my work in my Ph.D. program focused on

hypothesis states that chronic exposure to social

health. Sociology is a discipline that focuses on how

and economic disadvantage leads to accelerated

social structures influence outcomes, and that

decline in physical health outcomes and could

dovetails with Public Health because Public Health

partially explain racial disparities in a wide array of

also looks at social determinants. We're all interested

health conditions.” National Institutes of Health].

outcomes;

One aspect is that pursuing education and upward

understanding how systems of discrimination, like

mobility tends to delay age at first birth. Age for

racism and sexism, influence the experiences,

Black women increases risk, and Black women tend

resources and opportunities that people have, which

to go through these weathering processes earlier,

in turn influence health. Trying to understand these

where, biologically, they're exposed to more

big social processes and social institutions and their

adversity, and this takes a toll on their physical

connection to individual-level exposures and then

health.

population-level

influences

and

due

weathering

[“The

weathering

individual-level outcomes is what I'm interested in. And Public Health can have huge impacts on a community, there are spillover effects that you get from investing in Public Health that you might not get from just investing in individual-level medical care about treating or changing the full system. Your research project for the CLR Faculty Fellowship

focuses

the

relationship

between maternal education and Hispanic infant birth weight. Can you tell us more about what inspired this project? My project is looking at how changes in maternal

Latinx individuals are sorely underrepresented in health professions, and we know that their background and perspective is needed for better health outcomes for Latinx populations.

education and changes in maternal age over time have influenced birth outcomes for Hispanic infants, white infants and black infants. I’ll be pulling on this idea of the Hispanic Health Paradox to try and

Another question, though, is that if you take out the

understand patterns in birth outcomes over the last

part of weathering attributable to age, is there still

20 years. Over time, maternal education has been

something else going on? Educated Black women

increasing. That also means maternal age has been

are having differential experiences where they

increasing because women delay having children

might be exposed to more stress in higher

until they're finished pursuing their education. We

education, in workplaces that they go into, etc.,

know that increases in maternal age can be

because of their minority status. And is this leading

associated with poor birth outcomes or an increased

to potentially worse outcomes as well? What I'm

risk of things like prematurity and low birth weight.

hoping to just do is to look at how have birth

18 outcomes changed along with these patterns in

What advice would you give to aspiring

education and maternal age, do they look different

Latinx public health professionals?

for Hispanic, Black and white mothers? Do we see

I think a lot of people want to help their

any of these patterns of weathering for Hispanic

communities; they want people to get the access

mothers? We might expect to see some of these

they need. They want people to feel better. And they

other patterns of stress and burden, and that helps

want to reduce inequities. I think to do that, we

give us some direction about things like: How is

need Public Health professionals who reflect the

structural racism impacting Hispanic groups versus

community and who can bring the perspectives of

Black groups versus white groups?

the community to leadership positions, so my

Some of my other work has looked at structural

advice would be: come, stick to it. Yes, you might be

racism and how that impacts health outcomes. A lot

blazing a new trail, but I think if you keep focused

of the work on structural racism has looked at

on the work that you're doing to close inequities, I

Black Americans but hasn't looked at other racial

think it would be worthwhile.

and ethnic groups to the same extent. So, I'm curious as to whether or not these same structural racism constructs that we've used to examine outcomes for Black Americans hold up for Hispanic Americans or Hispanic immigrant groups. I also hope to move this research agenda forward to measure structural racism for Hispanic groups and do some comparisons. Do we see structural racism

CENTER FOR LATINO RESEARCH 2023-2024 FACULTY FELLOWS

helping to explain this Hispanic Health Paradox? Do

differences

structural

adversity

have

differential impacts on health for Hispanic versus Black populations? Or are they similar? It might help us flesh out the nature of structural racism as a construct as well as give hints as to why we see health differences in a variety of areas. In the context of DePaul’s commitment to becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution

JESSICA POLOS

(HSI), do you have any insights on how the

Assistant Professor | Masters Program in Public Health

Public Health field can contribute to the

"The Role of Changes in Maternal Education in Explaining the Hispanic Birthweight Paradox"

institutional goal of intentionally serving the Latinx community? I think it's something that our program needs to talk more about and as this becomes real, I'm sure we will. My broader thoughts on it are that Latinx individuals are sorely underrepresented in health professions, and we know that their background and perspective is needed for better health outcomes for Latinx populations. So, if we have an MPH program in a Hispanic Serving Institution, it seems like a great way to attract students into this domain and work towards building more equity in Public Health related professions.

JACQUELINE LAZÚ Associate Professor | Dept. of Modern Languages Associate Dean | College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

"Young Lords Speak: (Re)Constructing the Narrative of Revolution"

JOE R. TAFOYA Assistant Professor | Dept. of Political Science

"Latinos and Police Use of Force: Overcoming Under Mobilization"

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS The Center for Latino Research

2024 - 2025 Faculty Fellowship Program The CLR Faculty Fellowship is an annual competition open to all DePaul University full-time, tenure track faculty in any discipline. The fellowship is supported by the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and grants recipients a one-quarter teaching release (2 classes) for research and writing on Latin American and/or U.S. Latino issues. In addition, the CLR provides up to 100 hours of student research assistant help during the research period. Within one academic year following the fellowship period, recipients are asked to submit a final outome or publication, and to do a short public presentation of their work.

2024-2025 CLR Faculty Fellowship Application Requirements An updated Curriculum Vitae For LAS faculty, an online endorsement from the faculty member's Department Chair/Program Director. Applicants from colleges outside of LAS should secure an endorsement from their Dean before beginning the application process. Project materials, outlined in the Application Guidelines which can be accessed HERE or by visiting go.depaul.edu/clr

APPLICATION OPENS: Thursday, February 1

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Monday, March 11

APPLY HERE or visit go.depaul.edu/clr If you have any questions, please contact: Bill Johnson González at bjohns58@depaul.edu or Marcela L. Reales Visbal at mrealesv@depaul.edu

CLR/LALS External Advisory Board Members Maria G. Arias Principal, Maria Arias Solutions BA, Political Science, DePaul University, 1983 Trish Brown Cordes Master of Public Service Management, DePaul University, 1983 Leonard Domínguez Secretary, Little Village Rotary Club of Chicago BA, Economics, DePaul University, 1967 Yvette Flores Managing Partner/Director, Cardinal Green Investments LLC BA, Sociology, DePaul University, 1986 Marisol Morales Executive Director, Carnegie Elective Classifications, American Council on Education BA, Latin American Latino Studies; MA/MS International Public Service Management, DePaul University, 1999 Michelle Morales President, Woods Fund Chicago BA, Latin American Studies, DePaul University, 1997 Maria Pesqueira President, Healthy Communities Foundation BA, Latin American Studies, DePaul University, 1990 Edgar Ramírez President/CEO, Chicago Commons Association BA, Political Science/Latin American Studies, DePaul University, 2000 Lou Sandoval President/CEO, Halo Advisory Group BS, Biochemistry, DePaul University, 1988 Lucino Sotelo Chief Digital Officer, Northern Trust Corporation BS, Accounting, DePaul University, 1993

thank you

Our deepest thanks to our Board for generously pledging over $25,000 during the Blue Demon Challenge to establish the CLR/LALS External Advisory Board Scholarship!

El Centro, Winter 2024

CLR/LALS External Advisory Board Members' SPOTLIGHT - Maria G. Arias Interview Conducted by Josué Paniagua Over the past three years, the CLR and LALS Department have been working with Dr. Marisa Alicea to identify a group of DePaul alumnae/i and community members to serve our units as an External Advisory Board. This volunteer group serves as advocates, advisors, and resources for CLR & LALS faculty and students. The group meets quarterly to remain informed about CLR & LALS activities and to establish a plan to assist in our efforts. The board’s work is grounded on a common understanding of the importance of the opportunity to study and research Latin American and Latinx communities. Maria G. Arias is the Principal of her own company, Maria Arias Solutions, a Diversity & Inclusion Strategy firm focusing on DEI Strategic Plans, Executive and Employee DEI Councils, DEI assessments, employee surveys and focus groups, employee resource groups, coaching and training, workshops, faciltating panels, public speaking and advice on DEI related matters. Her clients have included public and private companies, research foundations, professional associations, government funded agencies, supplier diversity councils, diverse chambers of commerce, legal, dental, and disability nonprofit organizations. Prior to this role, she served as Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for Comcast. Previously, she worked in various legal and business roles at Fortune 500 companies and she was an income partner at the law firm McDermott, Will & Emery in Chicago. I'm an immigrant from Mexico, from a small rural town called Santa Ana Maya, in the state of Michoacán. I grew up in a very traditional immigrant Hispanic family on the south side of Chicago. We stayed in our community in large part because my dad worked a lot, and his very strong work ethic was instilled in all of us. We all started working at pretty young ages (e.g., 13) back in the day when employers did not check to see if you were 16. I've had a very broad and varied career. As a student, I did everything from working in a Hallmark shop to working in a medical clinic. It wasn't until I went to DePaul that I focused my work in the legal arena. I worked as a paralegal at a law firm in downtown Chicago, I worked in the law library at DePaul's Law

Maria G. Arias

School, and I worked for a public relations consultant. I focused on jobs that I thought would

What was your experience as a Latina student

help me in my career. Initially, I had thought about

at DePaul?

medicine and the law. With the help of my

One of the reasons I went to DePaul was because,

professors, I opted for law school. I worked really

when I visited the campus, I saw a table of Hispanic

hard in law school so that I could get into the biggest

students and I was pleasantly surprised that there

and best Chicago law firm. Over time, I took the skill

actually were some Latinos. Unfortunately, I did not

sets I learned in law school and being a lawyer, and

have a chance to meet and mingle with other Latino

the lessons from managing other people, and applied

students because I had a very heavy course load. My

them throughout my different careers.

first year was especially hard and I basically spent my

22 college career working and studying. I felt this pressure to excel because I knew I wanted to go to the best law school possible. Yet, I experienced the imposter syndrome and culture shock during my first week of orientation. No one looked like me. Everybody had nice clothes, everybody had cars, their parents had given them credit cards, and there I was in the equivalent of today's Target jeans, Tshirts, and sweatshirts, and very little money. It was just very different for me. So, I identify all the time with students who are working through school

The people that you go to school with and those who you work with, are your support network

because, even though I was on a full scholarship, I worked to support myself. I did it on my own. Looking back, I hope that Latino and other students at DePaul have the opportunity to network and

willing to put my job on the line to create change

build lifelong relationships. Because the people that

when I think other people wouldn't take that

you go to school with and those who you work with

chance. Sometimes you just have to do that in order

are your support network, as well as your potential

to get some things done!

business network in the future. In the context of DePaul’s commitment to What was the bridge between practicing law

becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution

and

(HSI), what insights do you have in leading

going

into

Diversity,

Equity

and

Inclusion (DEI) work?

meaningful diversity initiatives at large

If you look at my career, a lot of those moves are

institutions?

taking huge risks. I was very successful in what I

DePaul is close to becoming an HSI. For any

did. And leaving something when you're successful

organization to be successful, whether it's to achieve

to start all over again, means a lot more work. But

HSI status or diversify, similar to the employee life

every time I took a new job, I learned something

cycle, you need to recruit and onboard successfully.

that helped me in the next job. The first reason I

I don't know what the breakdown is, but I suspect

took the role in DEI was because I experienced what

that DePaul has a lot of first-generation college

it was like to try to hire a woman into traditional

students who are Hispanic, so the culture shock that

male roles in business operations. I could see the

I experienced many years ago is still happening

institutional barriers as well as the individual ones.

today in a very politicized and polarized social

The second reason I chose to move into DEI was

environment [From the fall 2023 census: 48.5% of

that the person who I was going to be working for

the incoming Freshmen who are first-generation

was very well respected, and had an incredible

identify as Hispanic. IRMA]. You also have to look

amount of power. I thought, if I did well with him, I

at trying to retain students to help them be

could do anything. I had a lot of people say, "That

successful. DePaul has a lot of resources now that it

job is very risky and difficult.” And I said, “Okay,

didn't have in my time. But it makes sense, because

well, it's high risk, high reward. So if I do well, I'm

the nature of the student body is going to determine

going to do great. And if I don't do well, at least I

the resources you provide to students. Given that

tried.” The third and most important reason I took

DePaul is in the 20% plus range of Latino students,

that job was because it was going to provide me with

it is very important that they focus on our

the opportunity to use my legal skills, my business

community, which is why I'm so excited and I

skills, and my lived experience as a woman of color.

immediately

I felt like I could speak from the heart, and I was

approached about the advisory board. I know how

raised

hand

when

was

23 important it is to have role models. In my day, there wasn't anybody who looked like me in my firm, there was no one who I could talk to, no one to send a resume to, no one for advice. As part of my DEI work, I share how there are unwritten rules about expectations that organizations have. And, sometimes, diverse individuals don't know what those expectations are. They don't have a role model to say, “Let me give you some advice on how to dress, how to present yourself, what work to do and who to seek out” All those things are what I call “the package.” Because you need the “whole package” in order to be successful. What advice would you give to students as they transition from college into the workforce? I definitely recommend getting an internship or externship with an organization in your area of study. It's very important to have relevant experience to the extent possible, because that's going to give you an edge. And don't wait until you graduate, start your job search soon so that you can have a few different options. If you can't get internships or externships, find jobs in related fields, and use your network like your professors. In terms of other advice, as you can tell, I am a big fan of taking risks. Because, if you don't take risks, you're not going to progress. It’s important to reach for the stars and move out of your “comfort zone.”

Update: Starting this Winter Quarter, Maria G. Arias will be teaching an online course for students to identify and understand the issues related to DEI. Course: BADM 225 – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

EVENT RECAP

FINANCIAL WELLNESS Workshop

with

In the fall quarter, the Center for Latino Research had the honor of partnering with UNITE, nuveen’s Latino Business Resource Group, to host a Financial Wellness workshop focused on budgeting for college students. The workshop was led by Joy Crenshaw, CIMA, Head of Global Sales and Advisor Development at nuveen. It was an informative and interactive workshop, attended by students from across programs. After the workshop, students had the opportunity to network with Latinx professionals from the financial sector. A special thank you to Sonia Sandoval, Vice-President of Institutional Business Development - Latin America at nuveen, for her instrumental role in making this workshop a success!

Upcoming Exhibitions

Selva Aparicio: In Memory Of March 14, 2024–August 4, 2024 For her first solo museum exhibition, In Memory Of, Chicago-based artist Selva Aparicio (b. 1987) transforms each of DePaul Art Museum's firstfloor gallery spaces into a domestic setting by way of a careful excavation of the artist's life and memories. The dilemmas arising from the meanings of “public" and “private" in the context of domestic violence operate at both a practical and conceptual level. The exhibition aims to project—from the point of view of children and women—domestic life in an apparently common space, but once observed from close proximity, different pieces and messages are revealed. Selva Aparicio: In Memory Of is curated by Ionit Behar, Ph.D., Curator, and organized by DePaul Art Museum as part of the ongoing Learning Studio initiative. Thanks to DePaul students Zoë Hamilton and Bernardo Soares. Support for this exhibition is provided by The Women's Centerat DePaul University. Selva Aparicio. East of Eden, 2023. Dandelion seeds and discarded teddy bear from a child's grave. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Daniel Delgado.

The Image Pool March 14, 2024–August 4, 2024 The Image Pool explores works by Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Mr. Imagination, Marva Lee Pitchford-Jolly, June Wayne, Derek Webster, and Joseph Yoakum. The works in the collection are typically described as “folk,” “self-taught,” “outsider,” or “intuitive,” due to their creators’ seeming distance from the institutional sanctions of art schools, museums, galleries, and mainstream commercial success. Intentionally problematizing the insider/outsider distinction, this exhibition instead frames these works as exemplary of what it means to be a contemporary artist rather than an exception. The Image Pool is curated by David Maruzzella, Collection and Exhibition Manager, with Chiara Conner, Zoë Hamilton, and Bernardo Soares and organized by DePaul Art Museum as part of the Learning Studio initiative. Support for The Image Pool is provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art.

Eugene Von Bruenchenhein. Untitled, 1962. Pigment on cardboard. Collection of DePaul Art Museum, gift of Jean and Lewis Greenblatt, 2009.

museum TOURS | RECAP In October 2023, the CLR had the privilege of hosting exhibition tours for students at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) and the DePaul Art Museum (DPAM). The tours were led by DePaul Professor and artist, Bibiana Suárez, who had pieces exhibited in both museums. At the MCA we toured entre horizontes: Art and Activism Between Chicago and Puerto Rico, which is available until May 5, 2024, and Life Cycles/Ciclos de vida, which closed February 11th. It was a wonderful experience for the students and staff who were able to join.

Bibiana Suárez discussing her pieces Monumento al arroz con gandules (left, at DPAM) and Juracan (right, at MCA)

DPAM Curator, Ionit Behar, offering insights on the Life Cycles/Ciclos de vida showcased artists

LATINX

BOOK CLUB Reading and Celebrating Latinx Authors

Join us for a discussion of

LILIANA’S INVINCIBLE SUMMER: A SISTER’S SEARCH FOR JUSTICE By Cristina Rivera Garza This 2023 National Book Award Finalist for non-fiction chronicles Rivera Garza’s relentless pursuit of truth and justice for her sister, Liliana Rivera Garza, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 1990. “A moving, heartwrenching memoir as well as an unflinching appraisal of the widespread violence against women in Mexico” (Kirkus Reviews). Each discussion will focus on a section of the text, as we prepare toward meeting Cristina Rivera Garza in person when she visits DePaul on April 17th, 2024.

Questions? clr@depaul.edu

Discussion Dates:

1/18/24 2/8/24 2/29/24 4/11/24

4:30 - 5:45 PM

(in-person and hybrid)

The first 15 students who register will receive a FREE COPY of the book!

Hosted by: Center for Latino Research DePaul Art Museum Latinx Cultural Center University Counseling and Psychological Services

HERE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17TH, 2024 6:00 PM | DePaul Art Museum

a reading and conversation with

Cristina Rivera Garza

Rivera Garza is the award-winning author of the non-fiction book Liliana’s Invincible Summer: A Sister’s Search for Justice, a 2023 National Book Award Finalist, as well as the acclaimed novels The Taiga Syndrome and The Iliac Crest, among many other books. She is a recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship as well as a two-time winner of the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Prize. She serves as the M. D. Anderson Distinguished Professor in Hispanic Studies and Director of the Ph.D. program in Creative Writing in Spanish at the University of Houston, the first creative writing program in Spanish in the U.S. This event is in conjunction with DPAM's forthcoming exhibition, Selva Aparicio: In Memory Of .

QUESTIONS? CLR@DEPAUL.EDU

El Centro, Winter 2024

Latinx Student SPOTLIGHT MESA Vice-President: Lila Nambo Interview Conducted by Josue Paniagua Lila Nambo is a DePaul undergraduate student majoring in Latin American and Latino Studies. As a Latina student, she has been involved in the DePaul community through her work focused on community building and creating spaces for Latinx students. In her most recent role as vice-president of MESA (Movimiento Estudiantil de Solidaridad y Apoyo), she discusses what the organization is about, what its plans are moving forward, and how DePaul can continue to support them.

For someone who hasn’t heard of MESA (Movimiento Estudiantil de Solidaridad y Apoyo),

can

you

explain

what

this

organization is about and its mission? MESA is a student organization at DePaul that is for and by Latinx students, as well as students in general. We empower and hope to continue to empower the students at DePaul through different social, academic and professional development events. We hope to be a support system for Latinx students, more specifically to be a community and create a community space for Latinx students. Why do you think it's important to have an organization such as MESA exist on campus?

Lila Nambo

It's so important to have space for students to enjoy themselves, but also have support for anything. A lot

What kinds of events does MESA hold?

of students that come to MESA have different

A big part of college is the social community aspect

intersectional identities with a lot of them being

so we have a lot of cool events. One of my favorites

freshmen and first generation students. It can be

is one we have almost every quarter which is a

intimidating to navigate college if you really don't

potluck where everyone brings food of their cultural

know anyone. I know that I was intimidated. We

background being that MESA is open to everybody.

hope to expose students to the resources they have

We have a lot of dishes that are Latin American but

so they don't have to do it alone. Offering a diverse

also dishes that are not, so it's really fun to see what

set of events for students to do is very helpful as well

people bring. We've had events where people can

because not everyone is looking for the same thing.

present stuff they've learned in class and in general

We have people that come to all of the events. We

just share what they've learned. We've also

have people who come to just social events or other

fundraised and hosted a clothing drive for

types of events we host. Still, it’s important for

Venezuelan migrants. We had an event at the Ray

Latinx students to feel like they can have space

called Zumba with MESA to show students the Ray,

because we have a lot of Latinx students, but we

what they offer there and also to have fun because it

don't have a lot of spaces for us to be in a

can be very intimidating to explore that by yourself.

community together.

We also had an event last year at the IRL since a lot

30 of students don't know what that even is. It really is a mix of events which is important for MESA.

both learning and have experienced. I feel very supported as well since it’s not just me who's doing all this. Bailé was hosted last year around May and that was the biggest event we've ever had. We were so scared no one was going to come but a lot of people showed out and we've learned more about

It’s important for Latinx students to feel like they can have a space... for us to be in a community together.

planning Bailé to make it better this year. It was really nice to see everyone reaping the benefits and seeing all our hard work on display. That's a favorite memory for sure. What is the best way for faculty, staff, and students to best support this organization? It's important to collaborate and talk to faculty since they have a lot of experience and knowledge to share with all of us. Not just Latinx faculty, but any faculty that wants to be involved and support us

Do you feel like MESA has had a positive

on how to do the things we want to do. For

reception from the university?

students, show up if you want to come. Talk to us if

We definitely have made ourselves known to both the

you want to come. Students should feel free to talk

student body and DePaul as an institution. We hope

to us and to take up space, not just within MESA,

to continue to build our reputation and just continue

but anywhere within DePaul as well. A lot of the

to do the work that we've been doing. When I talk

time in academic spaces, students sometimes aren't

about MESA, a lot of students already know what

taken seriously but they should take themselves

that is before I even tell them about it, which is really

more seriously and faculty and staff should take

cool. Last year we won New Student Organization of

student organizations and student voices seriously

the Year. We got that award after just our first full

as well. By being open and communicative, it would

year of being a student organization, which is really

just benefit everyone.

awesome and was well deserved. Everyone in MESA, especially Evelyn and Emily who were co-presidents at the time, did such a great job at planning a really successful year. This year a lot of us are graduating, but we have a lot of members who are underclassmen or juniors so they will continue to carry that on. How would you describe your time with MESA? Do you have a favorite memory? I would describe my time with MESA being very much a chance to grow and explore my skills. For a lot of us, it's our first time in leadership positions. As we’re learning and teaching ourselves how to run events, we’re figuring out what works better. It’s a lot of trial and error and a lot of acceptance. I've also just had pride. Since my major is Latin American studies, MESA is a place where I can really enact what I'm

RECAP

During Latinx Heritage Mon th we had the privil ege of being a part of DePaul’s sec ond annual F ERIA, a university-w ide celebratio n that featured Sam ba and drag performance s, food, recre ational activities, an d information booths.

rtunity to o p p o e u iq n u a s a w It ents and d tu s w e n h it w t c e n con nity. celebrate in commu azing Thank you to our am ade m o h w rs e n rt a p y it n commu an’t wait c e W . le ib s s o p ll a this for next year!

& C S L L R A L H o n u e s p e O ca re

On Thursday, September 28th, 2023, LALS and CLR hosted students, staff, and faculty for an open house. It was a chance for our community to meet LALS’ new Assistant Professor, Dr. Yoalli Rodríguez Aguilera, and to celebrate the new school year.

From the