CL@SE Inaugural Week Poster
This past week was the inaugural week of OSU’s Center for Latino/a Studies and Engagement (CL@SE) and the OMA was excited to be a part of the festivities.
CL@SE’s mission is to promote engaged research and outreach devoted to advancing knowledge and understanding of Latino/a contributions and the issues surrounding the population in Oregon, the region, and beyond. For more information about the development history of the center, click here for a 2011 article about the newly formed center.
The week’s events began with a panel discussion of the history of the Latino/a community in Oregon, especially highlighting the Bracero Program in Oregon and the resources that we have available through the OMA and the Valley Library: Braceros Photograph Collection, OPB’s Braceros in Oregon episode, and the documentary Harvest of Loneliness.
On Tuesday night Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. gave the keynote address in which he spoke about his personal and professional experiences. He expressed the need for change in the United States’ immigration, agriculture, and education policies as they relate to the Latino/a population. The many young students in attendance were definitely inspired by his call to leadership.
Wednesday night was the opening reception of an art exhibition by Analee Fuentes, “Del Corazon (By Heart)” featuring paintings that reflect Fuentes’ identity as a third-generation Chicana who grew up around Latino communities the United States. For more information, check out this Corvallis Gazette-Times article.
The week concluded with a research symposium that brought together a variety of disciplines within OSU all working on assisting the Latino/a community in Oregon. Participants included Ethnic Studies Dept, the College of Education, Extension, Dept of Science and Math Education, the Healthy Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families, just to name a few.
CL@SE would not be in existence without the dedicated leadership of Professor Susana Rivera-Mills, the center’s interim director; her story is featured as part of the OSU Spotlight Blog
