CLACX Events
Clacx celebrates 75 years of latin american and latinx studies
For over 75 years, Vanderbilt has led the way in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx studies, pioneering new avenues for innovation, influence, and progress in the discipline. Today, the Vanderbilt Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies stands as a vanguard, spearheading significant advancements in education, research, and programming, not only within the university but also on a national scale.
We cordially invite you to commemorate the enduring legacy and promising future of CLACX on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 3:00 pm. Our event will feature a distinguished roundtable discussion with faculty, esteemed alumni, and accomplished students, followed by a reception to honor this milestone at 4:30 pm.
Our panelists:
- Marshall Eakin, distinguished professor of history; author of 6 books on Brazil and Latin America, including most recently, What is Latin American History? (2021), which among other attributes, maps out and thinks through the different articulations of Latam history (and studies) over the last 60-80 years.
- Dr. Adriana Laza Medina is an assoc prof of reading in the dept of reading and elementary education at UNC Charlotte, where she’s won awards for excellence in teaching and is the recipient of UNC Charlotte’s Faculty International Award. She earned her BA in education at VU, and was a founder of the Vanderbilt Hispanic Student Association. With over 30 years as an educator at virtually every level from elementary to university, she’s taught a range of fascinating classes, including, Communication and Critical Thinking with a Focus on Global Citizenship.
- Rosalinda Méndez is the Founder and CEO of NOA Research, LLC a research, technical and project management consulting firm. Previously, she served for over a decade as the Associate Director for the Texas Learning and Computation Center at the University of Houston, and before that worked in Washington DC, where she coordinated Latin American research at the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of Natural History, and was an instructor for the Fulbright-Hayes training program, among other impressive roles. Rosalinda graduated from Vanderbilt with degrees in English and Anthropology, and is currently the President of the Vanderbilt Association of Hispanic and Latinx Alumni.
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Carlos Caballero. Of Venezuelan background, he’s a graduating senior, a Chancellor’s Scholar and double major in English/Creative Writing and Latin American Studies. He is a past FLAS Fellow in Portuguese, having spent the summer of 2022 in São Paulo deepening his language and academic training.
- We’re also honored to have with us another current student, 3rd year Diana Zamarripa. From Houston, she is double majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society and Latinx Studies. Diana’s part of CLACX’s student advisory board, and as a leader in several student orgs, as we’ll hear about more later.
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Avery Dickins de Girón, executive director of the center since 2008. An anthropologist , Avery coordinates public-facing and international initiatives, among many other things, and has played a central role in the building of Mayan/Kíché studies at Vanderbilt. We’re excited about her new course on the “Latin American Garden” rolling out next year, and the new partnership with athletics that she’s developed which will take student-athletes to Guatemala for summer study this year.
- Gretchen Selcke is the assistant director of the center, and heads our undergraduate and graduate curricular programs. An award-winning teacher, Gretchen is the former director of Latino/a studies at Vanderbilt, the creator of the #SomosVU hashtag, and president of the Latinx section of the Latin American Studies Association. Her courses span Latinx and Caribbean literature and culture.
el palenque de delia: colombian dance and music ensemble
To register for the FREE master class at Global Education Center, please fill out the following form: Colombian Dance Class (jotform.com)
february 12 to february 16, 2024
Monday, February 12
11:30 AM: “Digital Approaches for the Study of the African Diaspora” Panel. SSDA Digital Fellows will discuss research conducted over the past year and a half under the auspices of a Digital Justice Grant from the American Council of Learned Societies. Calhoun 337
February 8 – March 8
Jose Luis Benavides Video Experiments at Begonia Lab (2805 West End Ave). Poster attached with more information.
Wednesday, February 14
12:00 PM: “Making and Unmaking Latinx/Latinidad” Seminar Series presents Rebeca Gamez’s (Assistant Professor of Anthropology) “A Discussion of Book Proposal: Latinx Youth Formations in Black Geographies.”. Buttrick Hall 301. Lunch will be provided.
5:00 PM: Spanish and Portuguese Film Festival presents The Future Perfect. Furman Hall 114
Friday, February 16
2:00 – 4:00 PM: “Race, Migration, and the Making of the New South” with Cecilia Márquez, (Duke University) “Making the Latino South: A History of Racial Formation” and Jennifer Jones (University of Illinois, Chicago) “Making Race: Racial Politics and Possibilities in 21st Century;” Kissam C210 MPR
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, February 21
1:15 PM: “Revitalizing the Coffee Industry: A Strategic Call to Action” talk by Al López (Vanderbilt MBA 1999, Owner & Founder of Finca Terrerito in Honduras). Averbuch Auditorium, Owen Graduate School of Management.
3:00 PM: Cafecito with Al López at the Vanderbilt Language Center. Furman Hall 001
Thursday, February 29
6:00 – 8:00 PM: Video Screening & Artist Conversation: Un Nuevo Pasado (Someday Soon); Begonia Labs (2805 West End Ave).
february 5 to february 9, 2024
Monday, February 5
4:00 PM: Joseph Clark (University of Kentucky) “The First Black Atlantic: Captivity and Mobility in the Early Modern Caribbean;” Community Room of the Central Library. Reception to follow.
8:00 PM: Blair School of music presents a guest artist recital by Marco Granados, flute; Turner Hall, reserve your free ticket here. See full list of events attached.
TOMORROW Tuesday, February 6
4:30 PM: Latin American Images Photo Competition 2023 Award Ceremony and Reception. Bryan Building, suite 106
Wednesday, February 7
5:00 PM: Spanish & Portuguese Film Festival screening of “My Name is Gennet;” Furman Hall 114. Watch trailer here
5:30 PM: Nashville Public Library and Vanderbilt University present: Then and Now: The History of Minority Communities in Nashville. Nashville Public Library, Conference Center (615 Church Street). Register to attend here
February 7- 8
7:00 – 8:00 PM: Ballet Folklórico interest meetings. See attached flyer for meeting locations. Open to all.
We are sad to share the news that the former administrator of CLACX, Norma Antillón, passed away in late January. Originally from Guatemala, Norma served as the center administrator for 25 years and was described by faculty, staff, and students as the heart of the Center. Upon her retirement in 2011, Marshall Eakin and others established an award in her honor to support an MA student that best exemplifies her character. Norma continues to be remembered with great fondness by those in our community who knew her. A celebration of life service is planned for later this Spring.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, February 14
12:00 PM: “Making and Unmaking Latinx/Latinidad” Seminar Series. Buttrick Hall 301. Lunch will be provided.
Friday, February 16
2:00 – 4:00 PM: “Race, Migration, and the Making of the New South” with Cecilia Márquez, (Duke University) “Making the Latino South: A History of Racial Formation” and Jennifer Jones (University of Illinois, Chicago) “Making Race: Racial Politics and Possibilities in 21st Century;” Kissam C210 MPR.
ANNOUNCEMENT
- FLAS Summer Awards Competition deadline is TODAY, February 5. For full award information and link to apply go to: https://as.vanderbilt.edu/clacx/aid-and-awards/
- Congratulation to our Director Celso T. Castilho as he was recently elected president of the conference on Latin American History (CLAH)!
- Watch here as CLACX Faculty Steering Committee member Julie Gamble (Gender and Sexuality) shares her experience biking through Quito, Ecuador to understand first-hand how urban mobility and infrastructure can help reduce gender inequality.
January 29 to february 2, 2024
Wednesday, January 31
2:00 PM: Talk by Melissa Harris-Perry discussing “How Can We Talk about Race on Campus? Equity and Diversity in the Aftermath of Affirmative Action;” Central Library, Community Room. Reception to follow.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday, February 5
4:00 PM: Joseph Clark (University of Kentucky) “The First Black Atlantic: Captivity and Mobility in the Early Modern Caribbean;” Community Room of the Central Library. Reception to follow.
8:00 PM: Blair School of music presents a guest artist recital by Marco Granados, flute; Turner Hall: https://events.vanderbilt.edu/blair/event/68316-guest-artist-marco-granados-flute. See full list of events attached.
Tuesday, February 6
4:30 PM: Latin American Images Photo Competition 2023 Award Ceremony and Reception. Bryan Building, suite 106
Wednesday, February 7
5:00 PM: Spanish & Portuguese Film Festival screening of “My Name is Gennet;” Furman Hall 114. Watch trailer here
5:30 PM: Then and Now: The History of Minority Communities in Nashville. Nashville Public Library, Conference Center (615 Church Street). Register to attend here
ANNOUNCEMENT
- FLAS Summer Awards Competition deadline is Monday, February 5. For full award information and link to apply go to: https://as.vanderbilt.edu/clacx/aid-and-awards/
January 22 to JanUARY 26, 2024
Monday, January 22
3:00 PM: Talk by Jonathan Rauch discussing “Why Free Speech is the Only Safe Space for Minorities;” Central Library, Community Room. Reception to follow.
Wednesday, January 24
12:00 PM: “Making and Unmaking Latinx/Latinidad” CLACX Inaugural Seminar Series Launch. Buttrick Hall 301. Lunch will be provided.
Thursday, January 25
12:00 PM: GuateSeminar talk by Gladys Tzul Tzul “Trabajo comunal: o de la fuerza material de la soberanía;” Furman Hall 003. Lunch will be provided. Flyer attached.
Friday, January 26
2:30 PM: Talk by Gabriel Giorgi (NYU) “La doble escucha. Escrituras contemporáneas entre lo humano y lo no-humano;” Furman Hall 001
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, January 31
2:00 PM: Talk by Melissa Harris-Perry discussing “How Can We Talk about Race on Campus? Equity and Diversity in the Aftermath of Affirmative Action;” Central Library, Community Room. Reception to follow.
Tuesday, February 6
4:30 PM: Remember that the LAIPC Award Ceremony and Reception was postponed to Tuesday, February 6. Bryan Building, suite 106.
ANNOUNCEMENT
- FLAS Summer Awards Competition deadline is Monday, February 5. For full award information and link to apply go to: https://as.vanderbilt.edu/clacx/aid-and-awards/
- Demetrius Miles Murphy (University of Southern California)
M.A. in LAS 2019 has published his solo article titled ““Quem pode ser a dona?”: Afro-Brazilian Women Entrepreneurs and Gendered Racism,” in the journal Gender, Work & Organization. It received the 2022 Society for the Study of Social Problems Kauffman Foundation Best Student Paper Award in Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Read it [“Quem%20pode%20ser%20a%20dona?”:%20Afro-Brazilian%20Women%20Entrepreneurs%20and%20Gendered%20Racism,]here
January 15 to JanUARY 19, 2024
Monday, January 15
6:00 PM: Co-ed Latinx Fraternity Alpha Psi Lambda invites you to their first spring event: “Tote Bag Painting” and to their informational sessions’ dates; more events on flyers attached. Buttrick Hall 205
Thursday, January 18
4:30 PM: Latin American Images Photo Competition Award Ceremony and Reception. Bryan Building, suite 106
UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursday, January 25
12:00 PM: GuateSeminar talk by Gladys Tzul Tzul “Trabajo comunal: o de la fuerza material de la soberanía;” Furman Hall 003. Lunch Will be provided.
ANNOUNCEMENT
FLAS Summer Awards Competition deadline is Thursday, February 1. For full award information and link to apply go to: https://as.vanderbilt.edu/clacx/aid-and-awards/
January 8 to JanUARY 12, 2024
January 8 – 19
Latin American and the Caribbean Images Photo Competition 2023 exhibit on display in Bryan Building’s Lobby.
Wednesday, January 10
6:00 – 9:00 PM: Auditions for Love is the Greater Labyrinth/El Amor es mas Laberinto; a farce comedy by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. Neely Auditorium. Flyer attached.
Thursday, January 11
3:00 PM: Classroom visit by Grammy Award Winner Vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant. Furman Hall 114. All students are welcome.
4:30 – 6:30 PM: Open House at the Parthenon highlighting new Spanish language translations – free entry for our students, faculty, staff, and community colleagues. Centennial Park.
Friday, January 12
8:00 PM: Performance by Cécile McLorin Salvant. Ingram Hall, tickets currently Sold Out, but you can add your name to the wait list here: http://vu.edu/salvant-waitlist
Saturday, January 13
3:00 PM: Performance by Music City Baroque “Music and Musicians in Spanish Latin American; ” Frist Art Museum. Free and open to the public.
November 27 TO DECEMBER 1, 2023
Tuesday, November 28
12:00 – 1:00 PM: Student Research Roundtable Presentations. Furman Hall 003. Lunch will be provided.
Wednesday, November 29
4:00 PM CST: GuateSeminar zoom talk by Vanderbilt Alumni Iyaxel Cojti Ren (UT Austin) “Deidades protectoras, expansionismo k’iche’, y la integración de las comunidades políticas aliadas en las tierras altas mayas de Guatemala durante el Posclásico Tardío;” Furman Hall 003. In Spanish. You can also join here:
https://vanderbilt.zoom.us/j/96032498487?pwd=UC9DQSs3SjlHZmhFb1hYMkhYSjVKdz09
Thursday, November 30
7:30 PM: Appalatin Performance at the Darkhorse Theater (4610 Charlotte Ave). Event page here: https://fb.me/e/4GO5PtbBm
Friday, December 1
12:30 PM: Appalatin Performance in the Commons Lobby (18th Ave S & Horton).
6:00- 8:00 PM: Take a break from studying and join MASA at Posada! Enjoy a cup of champurrado and delicious tamales. Community Event Space. RSVP here: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/event/9580379
Announcement
Call for Proposals for the Black History International Research Symposium hosted by Tuskegee University. See attached flyer for details.
This Week in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies: November 13 to 17, 2023
Tuesday, November 14
3:00 PM: Talk by Maria Hinojosa (Journalist and Producer, Latino USA/Futuro Media, The Texas Tribune, PBS’s Frontline) “A Dialogue about Latino/a Power and the Future of the US.” Wilson Hall 126
Friday, November 17
12:00 PM: Talk by Aldair Rodrigues (UNICAMP) “African Body Markings and the Construction of Blackness in Colonial Brazil (18th Century);” Buttrick Hall 123. Food will be provided.
September / october 2023 (national hispanic heritage month)
Wednesday, September 13
NPL Latinx/Hispanic Community Event, organized by Churchwell.
- Doors open at 5:300; event /program is 630-8pm.
- Confirmed academic guests include Eddie Wright Rios, Dan Cornfield, Elvira Aballi Morrell, Jamie Winders, and Andrea Flores.
- Confirmed community guests: Yuri Cunza, Manuel Cuevas and wife Ofelia Vazquez, Mario Ramos, Loraine Segovia Paz, Perla Salas and dad Yocundo, Hugo Reyes, Jose Vera Gonzalez and wife Suzy Verapepevera, Rosa Ponce and daughter Ale, Roxanne Velazquez
Thursday, September 21
CLACX Fall Welcome and Open House in new space Bryan, 11:30-12:30 PM – Empanadas and Drinks!
Thursday, September 28
12:00 PM: Talk by Stephanie Cañizales, UC Merced on “unaccompanied minors.” in Alumni Hall 201
5-7 PM: Talk by Javier Zamora Author of Solito commentaries by Stephanie Cañizales, de UC Merced and Eddie Wright-Rios. Organized in conjunction with the Borders & Citizenship Grand Challenge Initiative. Alumni Hall room 202
Saturday, October 7
Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival. CLACX will be at the Global Village representing BRAZIL. Centennial Park.
Thursday, October 12
Latino Tennessee Voices event – Reception 6 PM; Program 7 PM at Casa Azafran
Friday, October 13
Global Scholar in Residence Marcela Sepulveda’s talk 12:15-1:30 pm.
Monday/Tuesday, October 16-17
October 20-January 28
Art and Imagination in Spanish America: 1500-1800 Highlights from LACMA’s Collection at the FRIST MUSEUM.
CLACX fall welcome and open house
BRAZIL WEEK – SEPTEMBER 11 to 15, 2023
Monday, September 11
4:00 PM: Capoeira Lesson and Demonstration with Prof. Gil Whiting and Mestre Valu; Buttrick Hall Terrace.
Tuesday, September 12
12:00 PM: A Conversation with Brazilian trans scholar, journalist, and activist Sara Wagner York. Furman Hall 003.
Wednesday, September 13
12:10-1:10 PM: Lecture on Capoeira from Dr. Lauren Miller Griffith (Texas Tech); Furman Hall 003.
Thursday, September 14
12:00 PM: Lecture from Dr. Gustavo Siqueira (UERJ) “A history of the act of judging in Brazil: the experience of the city of Barra Mansa (1893-1980);” Furman Hall 003.
Friday, September 15
12:10-1:10 PM: Roundtable Discussion with FLAS Portuguese Language Summer Award Recipients Eli Apple, Michael Peck and Justin Jones. Furman Hall 003.
4:00 – 6:00 PM: Brazilian Karaoke Party with Brazilian snacks and drinks; Furman Hall 003
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CLACX hosts Student Bienvenida! at the Multicultural Community Space this Friday, Aug. 25.
This Friday, CLACX is hosting the annual Student Bienvenida! at the Multicultural Community Space. Students who attend will have the opportunity to receive #SOMOSVU t-shirt giveaways, enjoy empanadas, jarritos, and music in an air-conditioned setting. This presents an incredible chance for incoming students to gain deeper insights into the Latinx community on campus through CLACX.
Thank you, SCSJI (@scsji_vanderbilt) for the collaboration! #SOMOSVU
When: Friday, August 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: MultiCultural Community Space.
See map below:
Welcome to Vandy!
CLACX, student organizations team up to welcome incoming Latinx students Aug. 15, 2023.
Vanderbilt University’s Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies (CLACX) will host a “Welcome” event on Zoom for incoming Latinx students at the university on Tuesday, August 15, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Central Time. CLACX invites Latinx transfer and first-year students to join for an hour of connections and community-building.
The virtual program will feature opening remarks from CLACX Director Dr. Celso Castilho, as well as introductions by several student organizations on campus. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet each other before the start of the academic year.
Are you an incoming Latinx student at Vanderbilt this year? Please join us on Zoom on August 15, 2023!
Register Now for Zoom Link