Center for Mexican American Studies NEWSLETTER Anoverview oftheevents wehostedSpring 2018. 1
A brief message from our Interim Director! What an awesome and busy year! I have had the distinct honor to work as the Interim Director for the Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS). Throughout this year, I have seen first hand the passion and dedication of all of the members of the MAS familia: students, faculty, and staff. All are extremely devoted to support and promote issues related to the Mexican American and Latinx communities. As I reflect on this year’s CMAS accomplishment, with great pleasure I can attest that CMAS embodies many of UTRGV’s values. It has been very active in cultivating and enhancing the diverse, multicultural, and linguistic assets of our university and the Rio Grande Valley. Most importantly, CMAS ha s worked to instill a sense of value and empowerment in all members of the university community. I am very thankful to the CMAS staff, Yajaira Rivera, Amanda Tovar, and Karen Ramirez, who have been my right hand this year. They are the engine that runs CMAS. ¡Chicas un millón de gracias! Thanks to all their work and dedication, CMAS was able to celebrate the Year of Gloria Anzaldua, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the publication of “Borderlands / La Frontera: The New Mestiza,” In addition, they were very active showcasing the work and scholarship of the Mexican American Studies (MAS) faculty and students. They helped facilitate many activities sponsored by the center and organized by the MAS faculty: Pláticas, Trae tu Lonchera, Noche de MAS, and many others. I just want to say; it’s been a great honor and a wonderful experience to serve as CMAS Interim Director. ¡No digo adiós, sino hasta luego! Wishing you a wonderful Summer! Zulmaris Diaz, Ph. D. Interim Director of CMAS 2
POETRY AS CONOCIMIENTO: WHAT WE LEARN FROM THE POETICS OF ANZALDÚAN THEORY January 25, 2018 As part of our year-long series Nuestra Gloria our first ever recipient of the MAIS in MAS degree, Lauren Espinoza, facilitated a plática on using poetry as conocimiento. This event was coordinated by Dr. Stephanie Alvarez. MARATHON PLÁTICA January 26, 2018 Scholars and community members alike participated in a marathon plática which was to discuss how Gloria Anzaldúa’s work influenced them personally or professionally. Facilitators were able to present their research or creative works for 10 minutes. The purpose of the Trae tu Lonchera series is to facilitate dialog on topics pertaining to Mexican American Studies in relationship to our pedagogy and research. We also aim to promote transdisciplinary conversations, as well as building and sustaining a UTRGV MAS community. TRAE TU LONCHERA WITH DR. STEPHANIE ALVAREZ AND DR. CHRISTOPHER CARMONA March 4, 2018 Dr. Alvarez and Dr. Carmona kicked off this semester's Trae tu Lonchera. They facilitated a plática on race and racism in the Río Grande Valley. TRAE TU LONCHERA WITH DR. GEORGE DÍAZ March 23, 2018 This Trae tu Lonchera was facilitated by historian Dr. George T. Díaz. He discussed his 2014 publication titled: Rails, Trade and Traffickers. WOMEN WORKERS AT THE FRONTLINE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FUERZA DEL VALLE WORKERS’ CENTER March 29, 2018 As part of our Nuestra Gloria celebration the Center for Mexican American Studies hosted the women from Fuerza del Valle to share their role as women at the frontline of the development of the Fuerza del Valle Workers' Center as part of Nuestra Gloria. It was important to us to not only recognize their efforts, struggles, and resiliency of these women, but it is also important to uplift and support them- above all, by any means necessary. This event was coordinated by Dr. Stephanie Alvarez. 3
TRAE TU LONCHERA WITH DR. MARITZA DE LA TRINIDAD AND DR. FRANCISCO GUAJARDO March 30, 2018 This Trae tu Lonchera was facilitated by historian Dr. De La Trinidad and B3 Director Dr. Francisco Guajardo. We discussed their 2017 publication Answering the Call: Hispanic-Serving Institutions as Leaders in the Quest for Access, Excellence, and Equity in American Higher Education. This publication speaks to “how an HSI can align its curricular and core identity to reflect the population and region it serves”. ANZALDÚA SPEAKER SERIES IN PHILOSOPHY PRESENTS: GLORIA ANZALDÚA’S RADICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO 21ST-CENTURY THOUGHT with DR. ANALOUISE KEATING April 3, 2018 As part of our year long Nuestra Gloria celebration Dr. AnaLouise Keating discussed the radical contributions of Anzaldúa. Highlighting several of her theories. This event was coordinated by Dr. Cinthya Saavedra. MOVIE FOOD CHAINS SCREENING with FUERZA DEL VALLE April 4, 2018 The Center for Mexican American Studies collaborated with Fuerza del Valle to host a screening of the film Food Chains as part of NATIONAL FarmWorker Awareness Week. The film focuses on the injustices farm workers in Immokalee, Florida face and their struggle for fair living wages. TRAE TU LONCHERA WITH DR. JOSE SALDIVAR AND DR. JOY ESQUIERDO April 6, 2018 This Trae tu Lonchera was a little bit different! We were honored to host TWO pláticas at two separate times with Dr. Jose Saldivar and Dr. Joy Esquierdo! First, Dr. Jose Saldivar hosted a screening of the new TACO Webseries! Secondly, Dr. Joy Esquierdo will be facilitated a plática at over an article by scholars Ofelia García and Li Wei titled Translanguaging and Education. THE CENTER FOR MEXICAN AMERICAN STUDIES GOES TO AUSTIN TO TESTIFY IN FAVOR OF IMPLEMENTING MAS IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS April 11, 2018 Dr. Stephanie Alvarez, Dr. Maritza De La Trinidad, Dr. Christopher Carmona, and graduate students Josue Puente and Amanda Tovar, and former students Valerie Cerda, Allyson Duarte, and Abraham Diaz of the Center for Mexican American Studies familia traveled to Austin, Texas to testify in favor of implementing Mexican American Studies as a high school social studies course. A coalition of educators from across the state of Texas, including our very own Dr. Christopher Carmona, proposed the “Mexican American Studies” course to the Texas State Board of Education nearly four years ago. On January 30th, our CMAS familia went 4
to testify in favor of MAS, along with many others, and the Texas State Board of Education members decided that they would vote on whether to implement MAS in high school April 11, 2018. During that time from January until April 11th, 2018, a group of educators worked on creating the curriculum for the proposed course while also mobilizing support for the course. The Texas State Board of Education made history when they voted to implement the proposed course; unfortunately, by the name of Ethnic Studies: An Overview of Americans of Mexican Descent. Many such as Angela Valenzuela state that this is a paternalistic action on the part of the board and de-centers Mexican Americans. This summer there will be opportunities for public commentary to request change in name to Mexican American Studies. TRAE TU LONCHERA WITH DR. DAVID BOWLES April 13, 2018 Dr. Bowles discussed his latest publication which is a book of myths that are newly translated, adapted, or retold titled Feathered Serpent Dark Heart of Sky Myths of Mexico. His book was released on May 1, 2018. NOCHE DE MAS April 25, 2018 This event showcased the work of students and faculty from the Brownsville campus. The event included presentations and performances by LUNA and Marimba Reyna del Valle and discussed the Spring launch of the Chachalaca Review. This event was coordinated by Dr. Christopher Carmona. TRAE TU LONCHERA WITH PROFE JESUS SIERRA April 27, 2018 This Trae tu Lonchera was facilitated by Mexican American Studies Profe Jesus Sierra! We read chapter four from his thesis titled (Re)Defining Masculinity: Creando Concienca y Conocimiento Sobre la Educación Through Food. MAY DAY PLÁTICA with FUERZA DEL VALLE AND LUCHA May 1, 2018 LUCHA hosted Fuerza del vall for a plática. Fuerza del Valle discussed Exploitation, Super Exploitation, and Labor Trafficking /Modern Day Slavery in the RGV. TRAE TU LONCHERA WITH DR. ROSALVA RESENDIZ AND DR. LUCAS ENRIQUE ESPINOZA May 4, 2018 This Trae tu Lonchera was facilitated by Dr. Rosalva Resendiz and Dr. Lucas Enrique Espinoza, both of Criminal Justice. This plática was over their work titled Mestizo/a Discourse: Soldaders in the Corridos of the Mexican Revolution of 1910. 5
MEXICAN AMERICAN STUDIES STOLE CEREMONY May 11, 2018 The Center for Mexican American Studies hosted a stole ceremony for graduates of the Mexican American Studies academic program. Congratulations to the following individuals for their accomplishments: Bachelors of Arts in MAS ★ Misael Ramírez ★ Mayeli Vidal ★ José Reta ★ Alejandro García Masters of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in Mexican American Studies ★ Miguel Venegas ★ Dolores Montiel ★ Sandra Pichardo ★ Ricardo Peña Graduate Certificates in Mexican American Studies ★ Deidra Tafolla ★ César De Léon ★ Joel Vargas ★ Christopher Scott ★ Jiovanna Pérez 11th ANNUAL EL RETORNO: EL VALLE CELEBRA NUESTRA GLORIA with DR. MARÍA HERRERA-SOBEK May 16, 2018 The Center for Mexican American Studies hosted the 11 th annual “El Retorno: El Valle Celebra Nuestra Gloria” which honors the life, work, and legacy of Valley native Gloria Anzaldúa (1942-2004). Many attended the La Paz cemetery in Hargill, where Gloria Anzaldúa is buried, for a brief ceremony and presentations. The group then gathered at the UTRGV Edinburg campus Ballroom for a luncheon and presentation titled “El Valle: 30 Years After Borderlands/La Frontera: Nepantlerxs Comprometidxs con el Conocimiento” by la comunidad with local musicians, poets, artists, and scholars, including music by Roma ISD conjunto band Conjunto Los Cardenales de Roma High School. We welcomed back home featured speaker Dr. María Herrera-Sobek, professor of Chican@ Studies & Associate Vice Chancellor For Diversity Equity & Academic Policy at UC Santa Barbara. This event was coordinated by Emmy Pérez. Dr. María Herrera-Sobek and El Retorno organizer Emmy Pérez with Gloria Anzaldúa’s family. 6
At this time the Center for Mexican American Studies would like to extend the most gratitude to all faculty, staff, students, and community members for assisting with organizing and coordinating these events, attending, and spreading the word. GRACIAS * TLAZOCAMATI * THANK YOU 7