AVONDALE, Arizona – Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC), one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges, will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month starting September 19, 2012 with a Kickoff Celebration event that includes food, crafts, music, dancing, and a salsa contest.
Events are scheduled from September 19 through October 11 on the EMCC campus, located on 3000 North Dysart Road in Avondale. In addition to the Kickoff Celebration, planned activities include presentations, speakers, workshops, films, and luncheons. All events are free and open to the public.
This year’s theme is “Our Roots. Our Stories. Our Future./Nuestras Raices. Nuestras Historias. Nuestro Futuro.” It will be the ninth consecutive year that EMCC has presented a Hispanic Heritage series, continuing a commitment of cultural learning and celebration for the campus and neighboring communities.
“Ultimately, we want students to gain an understanding and individual appreciation for cultural differences and commonalities. The programs and events will not only provide an awareness and knowledge about Hispanic heritage, history, culture and accomplishments, but also educate our students about civic and social engagement,” says Christina Izaguirre of the EMCC Hispanic Heritage Month planning committee. “We are so honored and passionate about sharing all of these activities, and we encourage the public to come see what makes our campus so culturally vibrant.”
Our Roots. Nuestras Raices.
Wed., September 19
Hispanic Heritage Kickoff Celebration
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Ceremonial Plaza
Join the campus community with a fun celebration to begin EMCC’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month. Enjoy complimentary foods & festivities which will include the “Grito de Independencia,” music by Mariachi Corazon de Phoenix, flamenco dancers and guitarist, craft stations including paper Mexican flowers, Loteria, and a salsa tasting contest.
Friday, September 21
Film: “Innocent Voices”
12.00 noon – 2:00 p.m., Plaza Gallery
An international award winning film about a young boy, in an effort to have a normal childhood in 1980's El Salvador, gets caught up in a dramatic fight for his life as he desperately tries to avoid the war which is raging all around him. A 2004 film directed by Luis Mandoki.
Tuesday, September 25
Presentation: “Machismo and Marianismo: Two Sides of the Same Coin”
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., North Community Room, Estrella Hall
The concepts of Machismo and Marianismo, Latina/o gender roles, have been bantered about in popular culture. This presentation will address these two concepts and their implication to areas in education, counseling, classroom interaction, gender relationships and other areas that arise in discussions. Dr. G Miguel Arciniega is presently a Professor Emeritus in the Program of Counseling and Counseling Psychology at Arizona State University in the School of Letters and Sciences. His research work focuses on cultural issues with multicultural populations and multicultural/Latino counseling.
Wednesday, September 26
Cesar Chavez Luncheon
12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m., Community Room, Estrella Hall
The college's Seventh Annual Cesar Chavez Luncheon will commemorate Cesar Chavez's life and contributions to society and will include the untold story of the migrant farm worker, presented by Jose Luis Ojeda, farm-worker/organizer. A look into the day-to-day life of a farm worker family, the trials, hardships, and the willpower to pursue a better life. Ojeda will share stories of the courageous sacrifices that were made that were critical in challenging the social injustices and the need to organize and unite for a better tomorrow. RSVP to EMCC Student Life at 623-935-8807 by September 21, 2012.
Thursday, September 27
Shrine Box Workshop
10 a.m. – 12:00 noon, Plaza Gallery
Learn how to make your own shrine box that you can display for Dia De Los Muertos. This is a creative, fun, and visual art activity that helps celebrate and commemorate the life of someone who has passed away. Bring a small cardboard or tin box, and some personal items such as photos and trinkets of the loved one that has passed. There will also be items and materials available for decoration. EMCC faculty Annie Buentello will provide instructions and guidance if needed.
Friday, September 28
Film: “For Greater Glory”
12:00 noon – 2:45 p.m., Plaza Gallery
What price would you pay for freedom? In the exhilarating action epic, For Greater Glory, an impassioned group of men and women each make the decision to risk it all for family, faith and the very future of their country. The film's adventure unfolds against the long-hidden, true story of the 1920’s Cristero War, the daring people’s revolt that rocked 20th Century North America. A 2012 film directed by Dean Wright.
Our Stories. Nuestras Historias.
Monday, October 1
Presentation: Banned Books
12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m., Plaza Gallery
Cultural literature works have been banned and censored for a number of reasons, some expected for reasons of profanity, lewdness, vulgarity, sacrilege, and some surprising for reasons of retelling the past. During this interactive presentation, discover how Chicano literature changed one man’s life as he fought for the freedom of educating the future on the past. Sponsored by EMCC Behavioral Sciences and Cultural Studies.
Tuesday, October 2
Storytelling Workshop: Filling in Los Blanks
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Center for Teaching & Learning, North
This workshop will explore the experiences and observations that shape our lives through developing our stories. Knowing how best to share these stories fills in the blanks in the imaginations, musings, and continuance of our culture. This is where inspiration is found. This workshop will be presented by Joe Ray, a well-known artist, storyteller, painter and printmaker. Most of Ray’s work is reflective of a bi-cultural perspective formed by the Arizona and Mexico region(s), the people living in that region as well as a contemporary Chicano perspective.
Thursday, October 4
Ladder to Success Luncheon
12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m., Regions Restaurant
This luncheon will highlight the “movers and shakers” of Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD), that have moved up along the way, inspiring, motivating and empowering other Latino/Latina leaders to do the same. It will also feature EMCC’s Hispanic Heritage Month “MCCCD Wall of Honor” Project presentation, established to recognize and pay tribute to our MCCCD champions, both past and present. These select individuals have had a significant impact not only with Latino/Latina students, community and staff, but in the district as a whole. RVSP to EMCC Student Life at 623-935-8807 by October 1, 2012.
Our Future. Nuestro Futuro.
Monday, October 8
Film: “Sugar”
12:00 noon – 2:15 p.m., Plaza Gallery
Sugar is a 2008 sports drama film which follows the story of Miguel Santos, a.k.a. Sugar, a Dominican pitcher from San Pedro de Macorís, struggling to make it to the big leagues and pull himself and his family out of poverty. Playing professionally at a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic, Miguel finally gets his break at age 19 when he advances to the United States' minor league system; but when his play on the mound falters, he begins to question the single-mindedness of his life's ambition. Directed by Anna Boden.
Thursday, October 11
Power Summit
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m., Student Union
The Power Summit is being hosted by Voto Latino, the same organization that hosted the national power summit in Los Angeles. A panel of key influential people from our community will discuss the importance of civic engagement and participation, as well as provide an overview of the demographic voter population and statistical trends. Learn the importance of being a leader in your community and how to help bring change through your voting voice.