Speakers will highlight academic work about Hispanic and Latino communities in “Perspectivas,” a two-night series Oct. 7 and 8. The first ever Hispanic/Latino symposium will feature eight student, faculty, staff and alumni presentations.
“Perspectivas” is a part of Elon University’s programming for National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month and marks a shift in the focus from previous years. Sylvia Munoz, associate director for the Center for Race, Ethnicity & Diversity Education (CREDE) and director of the Spanish center, served on the Hispanic Heritage Month committee and said committee members wanted to change programming for this year’s celebration.
“We love sharing music, food and all of the components of culture that are fun,” Munoz said. “I felt like we were missing the component of academic culture. I knew a lot of people were interested in sharing their research, so we’re doing small sessions to give snapshots.”
The series is called “Perspectivas,” which translates to “Perspectives,” because it aims to increase awarness from different viewpoints. The programs are 5-8 p.m., and conversation topics range from “Global Intercountry Adoption and Child Abduction in Guatemala” to “Growing up Latino in the U.S.”
The symposium comes during Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs Sept. 15 - Oct. 15. The goal of the month is to recognize and celebrate the Hispanic and Latino community’s contributions to society.
The symposium sessions are 30 minutes or an hour, and each night culminates in a reception so the audience can ask additional questions. Munoz said the brief presentations allow for people to attend the sessions that fit in their schedules and allow the speakers to be flexible.
“They can structure it in any way they want,” she said. “Some talk about their research, and others are interactive.”
Junior Daniela Sostaita, who will give a presentation at the symposium, is also on the Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month committee. She said showcasing issues in Hispanic and Latino communities helps promote understanding.
“We’re trying to highlight it in an academic realm,” Sostaita said. “For a lot of [people], what they think about is culture. A lot of times it’s reduced to that. That’s great and important for people to be aware of, but it can’t be limited to that. Hopefully, people will see another side.”
Sostaita said she hopes the programing will expand upon what people already know about Hispanic and Latino people and culture.
“I expect that it’s new information for a lot of people,” Sostaita said. “They might have thought about these issues but not how they impact the Latino community, and the number of Latinos is growing in the United States.”
Other Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month programing this semester included a mix of old and new events, including the Independence Celebration, Latin Night in Soccer and Typical Costa Rican Breakfast.
Munoz said she wants “Perspectivas” to become a signature program for Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month in the future. This fall, she hopes attendees will be able to relate to the topics and learn more about Hispanic and Latino culture.
“They’re excited about sharing their knowledge and expertise, so I hope people take the opportunity to come,” she said.