Latino Cultural Affairs is a dynamic center for cultural expression, advocacy, and personal and professional development for students from all Latino communities and countries. Currently, more than 1,300 students of Latino ancestry are enrolled at Columbia College Chicago. They share the beautiful cultures and traditions of Central America, South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean with the entire campus.

Latino Cultural Affairs coordinates a number of events and programs throughout the year including Columbia College Chicago’s Latino Heritage Celebration and the Latino Student Short Film Competition which highlights student short films made by Latino student filmmakers or exploring a Latino theme.

The office also works actively with the Latino Alliance student organization, a group that serves as a family away from home for students of Latino heritage. In partnership with the office, the organization coordinates a variety of social, academic, philanthropic, and cultural programs throughout the year and supports fellow students in their academic and prefessional pursuits.

Be sure to pick up a copy of the office’s official newsletter, El Columbiano, where you can learn about the Latino community on campus, find resources, and view artistic work from current sturdents.

If you would like to stay informed about our office, scholarships, internships, events, and other opportunities, please send an email to daranda@colum.edu and request to be added to our e-list. Feel free to visit us in the office or attend a program soon.

Calendar Highlights

m a r c h

Jessica Rodríguez: Exploring Plena Dancing
Quincy Wong Center | 623 S. Wabash Ave./1st Floor

Jéssica Rodríguez is a founding member of the AfriCaribe Cultural Center, a non-profit arts organization in “Paseo Boricua” (Humboldt Park area) dedicated to preserving and celebrating Afro-Caribbean culture. Please bring comfortable shoes and clothes to participate in this interactive workshop. Sponsored by the course: “CARIBBEAN ART, LITERATURE AND MUSIC” with instructor Jesús Macarena-Avila, Latino Cultural Affairs, International Student Affairs, and the Department of History, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Wednesday, March 14 | 9 a.m.
National Association for Chicana and
Chicano Studies National Conference
Palmer House Hilton | 17 E. Monroe St.

On this 40th anniversary year, we return to Chicago, in the heart of the Chicana/Chicano Midwest, home of historic Mexican communities for over a century. The contemporary challenges to Chicana/Chicano Studies have been intense not only in Arizona, but in many states across the country, challenging Chicana/Chicano equality and inclusion in the very fabric of society. It is important at this moment to celebrate NACCS’ work to revitalize us as teachers, scholars, activists, and artists. The road ahead presents challenges and opportunities, progressive action, not solely defensive protection of previous gains.

Monday, March 19 | 4:00 p.m.
Café Society Event: Dance + Revolution
With Eduardo Vilaro, founder of Ballet Hispánico
A + D Gallery | 619 S. Wabash Ave.

Eduardo Vilaro has a long history with Columbia College Chicago as both an alumnus of the Interdisciplinary Arts program, where he received his MFA in 1999, and later as an Artist-in-Residence at The Dance Center. He founded Chicago-based Luna Negra Dance Theater in 1999 and served as its Artistic Director for 10 years. In 2009, Eduardo joined New York’s Ballet Hispánico, where he had once been a principle dancer, as Artistic Director. Both Vilaro's creative leadership and artistic voice explore facets of Latino culture through contemporary dance, examining the rich diversity and diaspora within Latin American and Caribbean countries. Creating over 20 original works, Vilaro often collaborates with visual artists, designers and musicians to create multi-layered works which frequently explore the radical politics of identity. Born in Cuba and raised in the Bronx, Vilaro studied dance at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. He was honored as Chicagoan of the Year in 2007 and Alumni of the Year by Columbia College Chicago in 2008.

Tuesday, March 20 | 4 p.m.
Latino Heritage Celebration 2012 Listening Session
MCA Conference Room | 618 S. Michigan Ave./4th Floor

National Latino Heritage Month 2012 begins as soon as fall classes resume.  Since few of us will be on campus during the summer, we have been exploring what the community is interested in seeing and experiencing this fall.  We would like to invite you to listening sessions arranged to explore the wants, needs, desires, ideas, and plans for Columbia College Chicago’s annual Latino Heritage Celebration. Let’s make the 2012 Latino Heritage Celebration our most successful ever.  We need everyone to participate so don’t be shy - See you there!

Wednesday, March 21 | 7:00 p.m.
Paola Mendoza: Exploring Afro-Colombia
Hokin Hall | 623 S. Wabash Ave./1st Floor (Room 109)

La Toma documents the struggle of an Afro-Colombian gold-mining community in southwestern Colombia to remain on its territory. Home to 1,052 families, La Toma was founded by runaway slaves in 1636. Over the centuries, they have developed a culture and history that is tied to this land, carving out environmentally sustainable livelihoods through artisanal gold mining and basic agricultural projects, and grounding their traditions in this ancestral place.
 
Despite a legal framework that protects the community’s rights to the land, multinational investors and right-wing paramilitaries have threatened, intimidated, and killed members of the community. Thanks to the strong organizational capacity and the community's will, in addition to transnational advocacy efforts that included PCN, WOLA, LAWG, and ACSN, the people of La Toma continue to live in the territory. However, private interests and armed militias continue to threaten La Toma in order to displace them and make way for large-scale mining operations.
 
Please join us to view the film and discuss the current situation with Paola Mendoza, director of La Toma and Eunice Escobar,  Chicago’s Afro-Colombian advocate. There will be a reception immediately preceding the event at 6:15 pm.

 
Thursday, March 22 | 7 p.m.
Ballet Hispánico
With Post-performance Artist Talk
The Dance Center | 1306 S. Michigan Ave.

Led by Eduardo Vilaro (former artistic director of Luna Negra Dance Theatre), Ballet Hispánico explores, preserves and celebrates Latino culture through dance. On the program is Espiritu Vivo, a new work commissioned from African-American choreographer Ronald K. Brown, which investigates the intersection of the African and Latino diasporas in the Caribbean and Latin America, set to a suite of four songs performed by Peruvian singer Susana Baca. Also on the program is a new work by Vilaro, set to music by Celia Cruz, and Naci, choreographer Andrea Miller’s investigation of the Moorish influences on the Sephardic Jewish culture of Spain.  March 22 date hosts a Post-Performance Conversation immediately after the event.  March 23 date includes a 7pm Pre-Performance Talk with Eduardo Vilaro.  For tickets, please visit: http://www.colum.edu/dance_center/performances/ballethispanico/index.php

Friday, March 23 | 9 a.m.
Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education 20th Anniversary Conference
Contact daranda@colum.edu for details.

7 p.m.
Ballet Hispánico With Pre-performance Talk With Eduardo Vilaro
The Dance Center | 1306 S. Michigan Ave.

Led by Eduardo Vilaro (former artistic director of Luna Negra Dance Theatre), Ballet Hispánico explores, preserves and celebrates Latino culture through dance. On the program is Espiritu Vivo, a new work commissioned from African-American choreographer Ronald K. Brown, which investigates the intersection of the African and Latino diasporas in the Caribbean and Latin America, set to a suite of four songs performed by Peruvian singer Susana Baca. Also on the program is a new work by Vilaro, set to music by Celia Cruz, and Naci, choreographer Andrea Miller’s investigation of the Moorish influences on the Sephardic Jewish culture of Spain.  March 22 date hosts a Post-Performance Conversation immediately after the event.  March 23 date includes a 7pm Pre-Performance Talk with Eduardo Vilaro.  For tickets, please visit: http://www.colum.edu/dance_center/performances/ballethispanico/index.php

 
              
a p r i l

Friday, April 13 | 5 p.m.
28th Annual Chicago Latino Film Festival: Opening Night
Contact daranda@colum.edu for details.

The Chicago Latino Film Festival is the oldest and most comprehensive Latino film festival in the country, representing over 100 films in an array of genres (fiction, animation, documentary, and shorts) that reflect the great diversity of Latino culture from the United States, Latin America, and Spain.  For almost 30 years, the festival has cultivated an intricate network composed of Latino artists, creators, and innovators from the film and art universe. The festival has grown from 500 attendees to more than 35,000, clear evidence of the demand for quality Latino arts programming in Chicago. As noted in Hispanic Magazine, “The Chicago Latino Film Festival is now the largest, oldest and best Latino film festival in the country.” The festival aims to provoke the audience and challenge oversimplified, mainstream, and standardized images of Latino identity by demonstrating through cultural expressions that Latinos are defined by more than 20 different nationalities and come from diverse racial and social backgrounds.  Audience members from all walks of life enjoy the cultural and educational programming including film screenings, workshops, and special events held in various venues, colleges, universities and community-based organizations.

Tuesday, April 17 | 4:45 p.m.
Multicultural Student Call-a-thon
Undergraduate Admissions | 600 S. Michigan Ave./3rd Floor

Multicultural Affairs has partnered with Undergraduate Admission to offer an extraordinary opportunity for students to be involved in the Call-a-thon program this fall. This opportunity involves current students making phone calls to prospective Latino students and answering their questions about Columbia. This is a wonderful opportunity to engage with Latino students in high school who were once like yourself and wondered about college. Join us in spreading the word on why Columbia is such a wonderful place to learn and live what you love.  Free pizza and soda is always served to volunteers. If you are interested in joining our effort, please contact Gemini Wadley in Undergraduate Admission at gwadley@colum.edu.

Wednesday, April 18 | 5 p.m.
28th Annual Chicago Latino Film Festival: Night of Brazil
Contact daranda@colum.edu for details.

The Chicago Latino Film Festival is the oldest and most comprehensive Latino film festival in the country, representing over 100 films in an array of genres (fiction, animation, documentary, and shorts) that reflect the great diversity of Latino culture from the United States, Latin America, and Spain.  For almost 30 years, the festival has cultivated an intricate network composed of Latino artists, creators, and innovators from the film and art universe. The festival has grown from 500 attendees to more than 35,000, clear evidence of the demand for quality Latino arts programming in Chicago. As noted in Hispanic Magazine, “The Chicago Latino Film Festival is now the largest, oldest and best Latino film festival in the country.” The festival aims to provoke the audience and challenge oversimplified, mainstream, and standardized images of Latino identity by demonstrating through cultural expressions that Latinos are defined by more than 20 different nationalities and come from diverse racial and social backgrounds.  Audience members from all walks of life enjoy the cultural and educational programming including film screenings, workshops, and special events held in various venues, colleges, universities and community-based organizations.

Thursday, April 19 - 4:45 p.m.
Multicultural Student Call-a-thon
Undergraduate Admissions | 600 S. Michigan Ave./3rd Floor

Multicultural Affairs has partnered with Undergraduate Admission to offer an extraordinary opportunity for students to be involved in the Call-a-thon program this fall. This opportunity involves current students making phone calls to prospective Latino students and answering their questions about Columbia. This is a wonderful opportunity to engage with Latino students in high school who were once like yourself and wondered about college. Join us in spreading the word on why Columbia is such a wonderful place to learn and live what you love.  Free pizza and soda is always served to volunteers. If you are interested in joining our effort, please contact Gemini Wadley in Undergraduate Admission at gwadley@colum.edu.

Tuesday, April 24 | 12 p.m.
Latin Pop Rock Ensemble
Concert Hall | 1014 S. Michigan Ave.

The Pop Orchestra specializes in music from the classic rock/contemporary era. The Ensemble utilizes the standard guitar, bass, drums, rhythm, and also employs trumpet, alto and tenor sax, trombone, and three to four vocalists.

Wednesday, April 25 | 12 p.m.
Latin Jazz Ensemble
Concert Hall | 1014 S. Michigan Ave.

Director Ruben Alvarez leads students in a performance of the musical traditions of Cuba (Bembe, Rhumba, Mambo, Songo, etc), Brazil (Samba, Bossa Nova), and Puerto Rico (Bomba) using the rhythms & performance techniques of various Latin percussion instruments.

Wednesday, April 25 | 5 p.m.
28th Annual Chicago Latino Film Festival: Closing Night
Contact daranda@colum.edu for details.

The Chicago Latino Film Festival is the oldest and most comprehensive Latino film festival in the country, representing over 100 films in an array of genres (fiction, animation, documentary, and shorts) that reflect the great diversity of Latino culture from the United States, Latin America, and Spain.  For almost 30 years, the festival has cultivated an intricate network composed of Latino artists, creators, and innovators from the film and art universe. The festival has grown from 500 attendees to more than 35,000, clear evidence of the demand for quality Latino arts programming in Chicago. As noted in Hispanic Magazine, “The Chicago Latino Film Festival is now the largest, oldest and best Latino film festival in the country.” The festival aims to provoke the audience and challenge oversimplified, mainstream, and standardized images of Latino identity by demonstrating through cultural expressions that Latinos are defined by more than 20 different nationalities and come from diverse racial and social backgrounds.  Audience members from all walks of life enjoy the cultural and educational programming including film screenings, workshops, and special events held in various venues, colleges, universities and community-based organizations. 


m a y
 
Friday May 4 - All Day
MANIFEST
Columbia College Chicago campus