University of Nebraska at Omaha
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Conferences and Events Past Events OLLAS to Cosponsor International Workshop on Migration and Development Omaha - As a member of the board and executive council of the International Network on Migration and Development, Lourdes Gouveia, director of the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), has co-organized a workshop on migration and development in Caracas, Venezuela, April 24-25. More information from the workshop will be posted at a later date. OLLAS Charla Series: Immigration in America, Our Shared Values View Event Flyer A conversation with Alan Potash Join us as we explore the topic of immigration and the shared value system that shapes our view of immigration in the United States. *The Anti-Defamation League Plains Region is committed to addressing the issues of prejudice and discrimination that affect the people of Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas, in order “to secure justice and fair treatment for all citizens.” The office provides numerous educational programs to the region, monitors and exposes racial and religious extremists, and advocates for the enforcement of hate crimes legislation. One Heart, One Community: A Dialogue on Police Reform OLLAS, Native American Studies and the Black Studies Department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) co-sponsored the first of several forums to address community concerns over unwarranted police force in the Omaha metro area and, particularly, among communities of color. Panelists reviewed the recent events involving the Galvan-Pekas family, Reinaldo Rodriguez and Alejo Clark. Panelists included Willie Hamilton of Omahans for Justice Alliance; Ben Salazar, editor of Nuestro Mundo newspaper; and Moses Brings Plenty of the Strongheart Civil Rights Organization. UNO student organizations also supported this event. Dia de los Muertos View Event Flyer OLLAS, UNO Art Gallery and the Mexican Consulate hosted this annual event to celebrate life and remember the dead. A presentation accompanied the celebration on the history of this pre-colonial tradition in Mexico. Students, faculty and community members were invited to view the altar and share a piece of genuine Day of the Dead bread and a cup of Mexican hot chocolate. This year the celebration was in honor of the indigenous populations of the Americas. A presentation by OLLAS historian, Dr. Maria Arbelaez, began at noon. This event was free and open to the public. OLLAS Charla Series View Event Flyer The first decade of the new millennium has seen a flurry of non-fiction books telling engrossing stories of undocumented immigrant crossings, deaths, and mutilations at the border. What, if anything, do these stories--often written with the gripping intensity of novels--have in common with Humanitarian Aid groups such as No Mas Muertes (No More Deaths) and Humane Borders? How might they be read as enacting various forms of ethical intervention, similar to that of Latin American testimonios in earlier decades? And how likely is such intervention to actually work? UNO Cultural Awareness Programs, the Department of English and OLLAS hosted Dr. Caminero-Santangelo’s (University of Kansas) presentation. OLLAS Charla Series View Event Flyer Ramón Guerra examined contemporary Chicana and Chicano narratives that resist and expand established literary historiographies. His dissertation, “Literature as Witness: Testimonial Aspects of Chicano Self Identity Narratives” investigates how Chicana/Chicano narratives provide self-historicizing perspectives. These testimonios revealed previously erased interpretations of literary history. The UNO Department of English and OLLAS hosted Ramón Guerra, a doctoral candidate at the UNL Department of English. OLLAS Student LuncheonView Event Flyer OLLAS faculty and staff welcomed new Latino students, Latino/Latin American Studies majors and Chicano/Latino Studies minors back to the UNO Campus. A brief program introducing faculty, UNO resource staff, Next Generation Leadership scholars and student organizations began at 12:00 noon. Third Cumbre of The Great Plains-Understanding Immigration and the Changing Communities of the Americas: Lessons from Sending Communities Across the Globe CUMBRE 2007 Website Cumbre, Spanish for summit, is a conference organized by OLLAS. The conference will bring together local, national and transnational scholars, advocates, policy makers and other informed individuals for a dynamic exchange of ideas and information about the current state of scholarship, policy and action. The aim of the conference is to generate new knowledge and forms of socio-political engagement regarding these urgent social issues. Most conference events will be free and open to the public. Information will be posted on this website as planning develops. SAVE THE DATES!!
The Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS), the Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law and the Public Interest, the Creighton Center for Service and Justice, Justice for Our Neighbors and the Chicano Awareness Center are co-sponsoring a vigil which will focus on the toll the current immigration system is taking on the unity of the family; often times leading to separation and uncertain absences. This week's workplace raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lends additional urgency to this event. All individuals wishing to join in an evening of peaceful observation for separated families are invited to attend. Link to Statement on Grand Island Workplace Raid. For more information email sulla@yahoo.com Common Sense and Immigration Reform: What People Really Want For groups of five or more please email lgarza@mail.unomaha.edu with party numbers. For more information call OLLAS at 554-3825. This event was free and open to the public. Dia de los Muertos View Event Flyer OLLAS and the UNO Art Gallery hosted this annual event to celebrate life and remember the dead. Students, faculty and community members were invited to view the altar and share a piece of genuine Day of the Dead bread. A presentation accompanied the celebration on the history of this pre-colonial tradition in Mexico. This event was free and open to the public. Ofrenda Community Workshop View Event Flyer Martín G. Ramírez Correa, born in Sioux City, Iowa but raised in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, visited Omaha to again direct the Ofrenda Workshop and install the altar for the 2006 Day of the Dead celebration. Martín practices traditional Mexican Folk Arts and has studied under masters of indigenous arts for the last 20 years. This year the workshop included mask painting. Please contact Lucy Garza at 554-3835 to register for this event by October 13, 2006. OLLAS Charla Series/Friday Film Festival-"The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" View Event Flyer OLLAS and SOLP sponsored a screening of the film Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada on campus. Written by Guillermo Arriaga, directed by and starring Tommy Lee Jones, Three Burials follows the story of a man who is shot on the Texas border. His best friend Pete Perkins, a local ranch foreman, kidnaps a Border Patrolman and forces him to disinter the body. With his captive in tow and the body tied to a mule, Pete undertakes a dangerous journey into Mexico to fulfill the promise of burying his friend in his hometown in Mexico. This film was the first of the 2006/2007 ongoing OLLAS’ Charla Series and was accompanied by a discussion led by Dr. Steven Torres, Assistant Professor of Foreign Languages and Literature. This event was free and open to the public. Vygotsky and Funds of Knowledge: Appropriating Cultural Resources for Teaching and Learning View Event Flyer The UNO College of Education and the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies sponsored a lecture with Dr. Luis C. Moll. Born in Puerto Rico, Moll is a professor in the Department of Language, Reading and Culture, College of Education, at University of Arizona. His research addresses the connections among culture, psychology and education, especially in relation to the education of Latino children in the U.S. In this lecture he explored the theories and implications of the works of Lev Vygotsky in education. This event was free and open to the public. For groups of five or more please email tstran@mail.unomaha.edu with party numbers. For more information call Dr. Carol Lloyd at 554-3471 OLLAS Student Luncheon
Colombian Mobile Consulate in Omaha The Colombian Consulate in Chicago, in collaboration with OLLAS and the Colombian Association, COLNEB, presented the Colombian Mobile Consulate in Omaha, NE. There were various consulate services offered such as expedition of national identification cards, passports, military cards, authentication of documents, visas to Colombia and any other consular assistance they offer. National identification cards previously processed at the Consulate in Chicago were handed out. A listing of these can be found on their website. The costs and conditions of the services on the Colombian Consulate are also listed on the website at www.consulcolombia.us. Payments were received via check or money order made payable to the Consulado General de Colombia. For more information contact Juan C. Picón with the Colombian Association COLNEB at 402-536-2107 or the Colombian Consulate General in Chicago at 312-923-1196 ext. 27 or email conchicago@consulcolombia.us. 1st Annual Latino Parents Conference The Chicano Awareness Center, Metro Community College, OPS, and OLLAS came together to sponsor a conference specially designed for Latino Parents in the Omaha metro area. The goal of this conference was to provide the Latino family with an opportunity to learn more about becoming an active member in his or her community, participating in the education his or her child, and learning the skills necessary to become self sufficient. This conference provided opportunities for parents to interact with other members of the community including business people and parent leaders in Omaha and neighboring cities. Registration was required. Please contact Chicano Awareness Center for more information at 402-733-2720. This conference was free and open to the public. OLLAS Charla Series-"Colombia Nos Une" Program The Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) at UNO hosted a Charla presented by Juan José Marín, Chancellor of the Colombian Consulate in Chicago.The event began at 5:30 p.m. in Arts and Sciences Hall, 100. This event was free and open to the public. Dying to Live: A Migrant’s Journey View Event Flyer Mexico Sinfónico View Event Flyer English Spanish You were cordially invited to celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day and usher in Hispanic Heritage Month at the Third Annual Mexico Sinfónico. UNO's Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Christopher Stanichar, played lively selections from Mexican composers. Javier Castellote, guitarist and alumnus of UNO's Music Department, was the special performing guest. OLLAS/U.S. Department of Education, UNO Department of Music and the Mexican Consulate were delighted to once again co-sponsor this event. This event was free and open to the public. Voter Outreach: We are Nebraska-We Will Vote! Building on the historic immigration marches that took place a few months ago, a coalition of organizations sponsored an evening of events to draw attention to the need for increased civic participation among new voters in Nebraska with a focus on comprehensive immigration reform. The event included a training session to deputize Omaha residents to register voters, voter registration and community celebration. Organizers invited everyone in the Latino and larger Omaha community to attend and celebrate this day of civic engagement Voter Deputy Training Chicano Awareness Center ( 4821 S. 24th St.)
Community Celebration and Voter Registration La Plaza de la Raza (24 th & N Street)
This Voter Outreach was sponsored by the Chicano Awareness Center, the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies at UNO (OLLAS), Nebraska Appleseed and NAF. For more information please visit: www.neappleseed.org or www.irnin.org. You may also contact Danielle Nantkes at Nebraska Appleseed (402) 438-8853, Email: dnantkes@neappleseed.org OLLAS Charla Series-"My Dinner With Fidel" View Event Flyer The Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) at UNO hosted a Charla on Wednesday, April 26. The event began at 12 p.m. at UNO's Milo Bail Student Center, Dodge Room. Dr. Benjamin-Alvarado has been visiting Cuba for the past 15 years conducting research, leading travel-study groups, and attending professional meetings. His visit this past March provided him with a once in a lifetime experience – an 8 ½ hour dinner and conversation with Cuban President Fidel Castro. This event was free and open to the public. U.S Senate Candidates' Forum View Event Flyers Spanish English The Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) at UNO and the League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha partnered to host a U.S. Senate Candidate Forum on Thursday, April 13. The event began at 6:30 p.m. at El Museo Latino, 4701 S. 25th St. It was free and open to the public. Senate candidate participants were David Kramer and Pete Ricketts. The forum was moderated by Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado, Assistant Director of OLLAS and Associate Professor of political science at UNO. Spanish interpretation was provided. The forum was designed to allow the candidates to present their respective positions on a number of current issues, particularly those important to Nebraska's burgeoning population of Latino voters and to South Omaha residents in general, Dr. Benjamin-Alvarado said. For more information about this event contact Lucy Garza at (402) 554-3835 or lgarza@mail.unomaha.edu. Law Enforcement and The New Immigration View Event Flyer UNO Police Professionalism Initiative (PPI) and the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) cosponsored this conference that brought together national and regional experts for a dialogue on the impact of the new immigration on law enforcement. Discussions of emerging challenges and innovative responses were included in this forum. The conference was free and open to the public. For more information contact: UNO Department of Criminal Justice at 402-554-3590 or samwalker@mail.unomaha.edu. Sunday Afternoon at the Durham Western Heritage Museum: OLLAS faculty, staff and students and OPS families viewed items from the Library of Congress' collection. "The exhibition examines the Supreme Court’s decision and related precedent-setting court cases, the public response, and the aftermath of this far-reaching milestone" (Durham Western Heritage Museum). Bilingual interpretation was provided. Guest vouchers were available January 3rd. For more information call OLLAS at 402-554-3835. OLLAS Charla Series-"Castro, Chavez, Fox, and Lula: Changing Faces of Latin American Regimes?" View Event Flyer Dr.Lourdes Gouveia, OLLAS Director and Professor of sociology at UNO; Gustavo Cano, a faculty fellow in OLLAS and the UNO Department of Political Science; and Dr. Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado, OLLAS Assistant Director and Associate Professor of political science at UNO discussed the historical context and current relevancy of political changes occuring in Latin America. This event was free and open to the public. Dia de los Muertos View Event Flyer OLLAS and the UNO Art Gallery hosted this annual event to celebrate life and remember the dead. This year's celebration commemorated Latinos who perished during hurricane Katrina. Over 200 students, faculty and community members viewed the altar and shared a piece of genuine Day of the Dead bread and Mexican hot chocolate. OLLAS faculty, Dr. Maria Arbalaez gave a brief presentation on the history of this pre-colonial tradition. 
Ofrenda Community Workshop View Event Flyer Martín G. Ramirez Correa directed this workshop to install the altar used for the 2005 Day of the Dead celebration. Martín practices traditional Mexican Folk Arts and has studied under masters of indigenous arts for the last 20 years. His current U.S. tour includes a major intallation in Los Angeles and working with OPS art departments. Martín is an Artist-in-Residence with Las Artes. OLLAS Charla Series-"The Gatekeeper: A Discussion of the Realities & Stereotypes of Immigrants Crossing the U.S-Mexico Border."View Event Flyer OLLAS launched this fall's Charla Series with a screening of the film: The Gatekeeper. OLLAS/Political Science visiting Mexican scholar, Gustavo Cano, led the discussion. Mexico SinfónicoView Event Flyer The Heartland Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Christopher Stanichar, played selections from Mexican composers to commemorate Mexico's Independence Day and the beginning of Latino Heritage Month. Sponsors: UNO's Department of Music, the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) and the Mexican Consulate. This annual event was free and open to the public. Immigrant and English Language Learners Roundtable OLLAS partnered with the Migration Policy Institute, the Urban Institute, Public Interest Projects, and the New York Immigration Coalition to host a full-day roundtable discussion on issues affecting immigrant and English Language Learner (ELL) students in the Midwestern United States. The main goal of the roundtable was to explore the strategies that public, private, and non-profit organizations are employing or can employ to improve these students' school performance. The meeting was the first of several regional and national meetings being hosted by the National Immigrant and ELL Education Advocacy Project. Click on the button below to view pictures from this event.
OLLAS/Office of Citizenship Brown Bag Luncheon On a recent visit to Nebraska, Carol Hollstrom from the Office of Citizenship met with agency members and activists involved in immigrant issues. Hollstrom presented information about the objectives of the Office of Cetizenship and explored interests of the immigrant population in this region. The Second Cumbre of the Great Plains: Re-Visioning Latin America: New Perspectives on Migration, Transnationalism and Integration This event was free and open to the puplic. Beyond Borders: Transnational Working Communities An informal conversation with David Bacon, Omaha Together One Community (OTOC) representatives and community members who participated in the photographic project. Exhibit dates were April 23 through August 31, 2005. Community members included: |
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