OC Register Article on Latin American Studies

(This is a trailer for “Casa Libre/Freedom House,” by Oregel Films, which will be screened during the conference on Friday.)

A number of graduate students and educators from Orange County colleges are scheduled to speak during the Pacific Coast Council of Latin American Studies Conference on Oct. 28 and 29 at Cal State L.A.

The event aims to bring together scholars, educators, graduate and undergraduate students and community members interested in Latin American studies, according to the group’s website.

Topics to be covered during the two-day event range from urban planning, to archeology, to social movements in Latin America.

To view a full schedule of events, click here.

Here’s a look at some of the Orange County participants:

• Ernesto Bassi of UC Irvine will participate in a panel Friday about colonial history.

• Pedro Acuña of UC Irvine will speak during a panel Friday about “Historical Perspectives on Race, Gender and Culture.”

• Tomás Crowder-Taraborrelli and Kristi M. Wilson of Soka University in Aliso Viejo are scheduled to speak Friday during a panel on “Social Movements, Human Rights, and Struggles for Justice.”

• Catherine Benamou and Rodrigo Lazo, both of UC Irvine, will take part in a panel Friday about artistEloy Torrez‘s work titled “Eloy Take Two: Transiting Between Experimental and Popular Art.”

• Benamou, Carlos Vargas, Cecilia Joulain and Claudia G. Pineda – all of UC Irvine – will participate in a panel Friday featuring film screenings and discussions called “Latina/o Youth At Risk: An Interdisciplinary, Transnational Dialogue.”

• Deysi Espinoza of Cal State Fullerton will take part Saturday in a panel titled “Going Home to Study Abroad: Latino/a Student Educational Delegations to Latin America.”

• Nathan Jones, Diana Kapiszewski, John Seth Alexander, Katja S. Newman, Robert Nyenhuis and Eric Mosinger – all of UC Irvine – are taking part in a panel Saturday titled “Who is in Control: Latin America’s Response to Weak Capacity.”

We’re told there is no charge to attend the conference.

The Pacific Coast Council on Latin American Studies is “an interdisciplinary organization composed of academics, professionals, students and other persons interested in promoting scholarly research and dialogue between the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean.”