Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia along with the Athens community has assembled a variety of events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The month-long, nationally recognized commemoration will take place Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 and honors the contributions of Hispanic Americans while highlighting the diverse heritage and culture of Latin America.
The Latin American and Caribbean Studies Institute, part of the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, will kick off the celebration with its annual open house on Sept. 16 from 3-6 p.m. at its office on 290 South Hull St. LACSI and the UGA romance language department’s Portuguese program are co-sponsoring the event. It will include a Capoeira martial art/dance demonstration, live music by Athens band Incatepec and traditional Brazilian food.
Throughout the month-long celebration, a film festival, lectures, dance performances and fiestas will take place at UGA and throughout the Athens community. Unless noted, all events are free and open to the public.
Sept. 15 – Tango Club
The UGA Tango Club will host their weekly Argentine Tango lesson in room 311 of the Tate Center. Taught by Frances and Fuad, a duo of university instructors, lessons and dancing are held every Thursday. The first lesson is free and includes a demonstration. Beginners meet from 6:10-7:10 p.m.; intermediate and advanced dancers practice from 7:10-8:10; and practica/fiesta dancing starts at 8:10.
Sept. 16 – Culture, Power and History
Jamie Palmer, a Ph.D. student in the department of sociology at UGA, will present “Representations of Cuban Masculinity in U.S. News Magazines” at 3:30 p.m. in room 114A of Baldwin Hall. A paper on the subject is available at www.uga.edu/gcph. This discussion is funded by the Willson Center for the Humanities and Arts, the departments of sociology and German and Slavic studies and the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Institute.
Sept. 20 – An Evening with Sylvia Mendez
Mendez will share her insights on the 1947 landmark case Mendez vs. Westminster, her family’s fight to give children access to education at 7 p.m. in the Chapel. The case ended segregation in California schools, setting a precedent for Brown vs. the Board of Education seven years later. The Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the Hispanic Student Association are sponsoring the program. For more information on Sylvia Mendez, see http://sylviamendezinthemendezvswestminster.com/
Sept. 26 – Rep Your Pride
Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority will host “Rep Your Pride” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Tate Plaza. Participants purchase a plain white T-shirt and use provided supplies to decorate it to represent their culture, flag and heritage.
Sept. 29 – Taste of the Islands
Participants will enjoy Caribbean food, music and dance while learning more about the Caribbean Student Association. The event starts at 6 p.m. in Myers Quad.
Sept. 29 – Latino Legislation Educational Forum
The Latino Legislation Educational Forum, which will be held at 7:45 p.m. at the Miller Learning Center, informs students about current political policies regarding Latinos and how legislation affects various sectors of the state. Lambda Sigma Upsilon, Lambda Theta Alpha, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the Hispanic Student Association are co-sponsoring the event.
Oct. 6 – Dia de Los Muertos
Hot chocolate, pan dulce and folk music will be served during this fiesta from 7-9:30 p.m. on the Tate Plaza. A traditional Mexican altar will be on display.
Oct. 7 – Culture, Power and History
Susan Eckstein of Boston University will discuss “Cuba: Remittances and Their Unintended Consequences” at 3:30 p.m. in room 114A of Baldwin Hall. A paper on the topic will be available a week before the session at www.uga.edu/gcph.
Oct. 15 – Noche Latina: Noche de Carnaval
Noche Latina, the signature event for the Hispanic Student Association, will include professional performances from different regions in Latin America. Traditional food representing different countries will be served. The event will be held from 6-10 p.m. in the Tate Grand Hall. Ticket are $5 for students and $8 non-students.
Oct. 19 – “abUSed: The Postville Raid”
The office of multicultural services and programs will sponsor a screening of “abUSed: The Postville Raid” at 6:30 p.m. in the Tate Theater. A discussion with author and director Don Luis Argueta will be held in room 480 of the Tate Center immediately following the film.
Oct. 22 – Athens Latino Fest
The second annual festival will start at noon at the Athens Latino Center for Education and Services at 165 E. Dougherty St. It will include music by Incatepec, dance performances by Tonali Danza Folklorica Mexicana and Brazilian Capoeira, food, poetry and other talents and contributions of the Athens area immigrant community. Sponsors include the Athens Latino Fest Planning Committee, Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition, Dignidad Inmigrante Athens, Athens Latino Center for Education and Services, Freedom School87 and Freedom University.
Hispanic Heritage Month Film Festival 2011 — “Immigration and Transnational Experiences” Films will be on view every Thursday, from Sept. 15 – Oct. 13, at the Georgia Museum of Art. Admission is free. UGA sponsors include the College of Education, LACSI, Georgia Museum of Art, the Office of Inclusion and Diversity, and the department of romance languages.
Sept. 15 – Precious Knowledge (2011), English
5:30 p.m. – Reception with Ari Palos and Eren McGinnis, the film directors, at the GMOA. Refreshments from Big City Bread will be served.
6:30 p.m. – Introduction of the film by Ari Palos and Eren McGinnis. Following the film screening, there will be a question and answer session with the directors.
Sept. 22 – Norteado (2009), Spanish with English subtitles.
6:30 p.m. – Introduction and screening of the film, with a question and answer session to follow.
Sept. 29 – Los que se quedan (2009), Spanish with English subtitles.
7:00 p.m. – Introduction of the film by Jaime Chavez, graduate student from the department of romance languages. Following the film screening, there will be a question and answer session.
Oct. 6 – Grandma Has a Video Camera (2010), English.
6:30 p.m. – Introduction of the film by Susan Quinlan, associate professor in UGA’s department of romance language. Following the film screening, there will be a question and answer session with the director, Tania Cypriano, via Skype.
Oct. 13 – Biutiful (2010), Spanish with English subtitles.
6:30 p.m. – Introduction of the film by Catherine Simpson, a lecturer from UGA’s department of romance languages. Following the film screening, there will be a question and answer session.
For more information about Hispanic Heritage Month, see http://www.lacsi.uga.edu/. For more information about the film festival, see http://www.uga.edu/rom/news.html.
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