Save the Date! LAXC Week — March 24th–29th, 2025. More details coming soon!

Changing Immigraton Policies: Information and Engagement Night

Wednesday, March 5th, 2025 | 4:30pm-6:30pm | Memorial Hall Forum

Join the Madison Center and JMU’s Every Campus a Refuge student chapter to learn more about current immigration policies and available resources.

Cuidando a la Comunidad

Monday, March 3rd, 2025 | 3:00-5:00 | Union Ballroom

The Latinx Student Alliance along with many collaborators across campus will be hosting an event next Monday, March 3 from 3-5PM in the Union Ballroom. Come out to become informed on your rights, how to get politically involved, and how to respond to ICE encounters. We will also be making Red Cards to give out and ensure everyone knows in the community knows their rights. We hope to see you all there and a big thank you to all the supporting organizations!

ON THE POLITICS OF QUILOMBOLISMO

Thursday, February 13th, 2025 | 1:30pm-2:15pm | The Union - Taylor 405

This panel includes Brazilian Atlantic Archive Fellows, Evelin Rodrigues and Alex Santos. "On the Politics of Quilombolismo" examines the power of maroonage as a critical form of Black political resistance and solidarity in Brazil and the United States.

By examining the politics of the quilombo from historical, present-day, and contemporary frames, this panel explores how Black communities in Brazil and the United States have and continue to build new worlds, catalyze new resistance strategies, and new ways of cultivating land and freedom despite anti-Black state, structural, and symbolic violence.

DIASPORA DIALOGUES WITH SEDRICK MILES OF ATLANTIC ARCHIVES

Wednesday, February 12th, 2025 | 4:30pm-6:30pm | The Union - Taylor 405

Please join us at a dinner in celebration of Sedrick “Sed” Miles, who is an artist, activist, a Fulbright Scholar, and a Ph.D. candidate at the Roger Stone Center for Latin American Studies at Tulane University. Sed is also the founder of Atlantic Archives, one of the first transnational, Black insurgent archival incubators in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. 

Sed will be visiting JMU as he will be presenting his research at the AAAD Conference. His visit is a part of a programming series created by Jaimee Swift in connection to her research, titled “Linked Fates Across the Black Atlantic: On Black Solidarities in Brazil and in the U.S.”, which highlights the politics, precarities, and possibilities of Black politics and solidarities across the Atlantic, specifically in Brazil and the United States. The programming series is sponsored by AAAD, LACX, Political Science, Justice Studies, Honors College, and the Center for Global Engagement. 

Read more about Sed’s work.

Hip-Hop, Education, and Literacies of Reexistence

Wednesday, November 13th, 2024 | 1:50pm-3:05pm | The Union - Taylor 405

Ana Lúcia Silva Souza will present on her latest book, We're an Example of Trajectories and Victories: Hip-Hop, Education, and Literacies of Reexistence, published with Améfrica Press. She is considered to be the founder of Brazilian Hip Hop Literacies and is a social-linguist at the Federal University of Bahia. Discussant remarks will be offered by Pablo D. Herrera Veitia, a Caribbean Studies and Sound Studies scholar at the University of Toronto. He is also an accomplished DJ, writer, poet, and one of the founders of the Cuban Underground Hip Hop Movement.

Crafting Local Commemorations: Honoring Día de los Muertos in the Shenandoah Valley

Thursday, November 7th, 2024 | 6:00pm-8:00pm | Memorial Hall

Join us for an event celebrating Día de los Muertos and other Latinx cultural traditions honoring loved ones. We'll engage in dialogue, artistic expression, and community building, recognizing the rich mix of Indigenous, colonial, African, immigrant, and other influences that shape these commemorations.

Throughout the space, artists, performers, educators, and cultural organizers will offer interactive stations where participants can view and create ofrendas, experience cultural practices, and reflect on their own ancestral traditions.

As the third annual, co-curricular event, this opportunity intends to welcome students, faculty, staff, and local community members to learn together and expand their understanding of global commemorative traditions.

Learn more or register by visiting the Crafting Commemorations event on the JMU Libraries event page.

Horizon Conference

Saturday, November 2nd, 2024 |  Begins at 8:30am | The Union

In partnership with Kiota Global and Vijana Africa, the Horizon Conference aims to provide extensive information and resources around Climate Action to participants as they aim to foster a deeper understanding and proactive engagement among young leaders regarding global peace and climate challenges. Join us at the Horizon Conference to dive into interactive workshops, and networking opportunities.

Follow the link below for more information or to register!

https://www.vijanafrica.org/events

LAXC’s Know Your Rights teach-in

Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024 |  10am-1pm | The Union - Taylor 405

Know Your Rights is an event structured around education, empowerment, and advocacy for migrant communities through panels and workshops that address the histories of migration to the U.S., migration policies and reform, as well as protesting and voting rights. We’ll have community partners offering resources alongside expert panelists. A detailed itinerary will be available soon. Snacks and refreshments will be provided throughout the event.

Please encourage your students to attend. Anyone in the JMU community is welcome!

For any questions, feel free to contact Dr. Verónica Dávila Ellis at davilave@jmu.edu

DEEP Impact: Latinx Heritage Month

Wednesday, September 25th, 2024 | 7:00pm - 9:00pm | The Union, Warren 256

Join the DEEP Impact team of CMSS and SOGIE to dialogue on the topics of Language and Advocacy during the Latinx Heritage Month. The Diversity Education Empowerment Program hosts dialogues each month for the campus to participate in.

Learn more about this DEEP Impact Dialogue event on the Event Calendar.

Hispanic Film Festival

Court Square Theater is delighted to announce the 2024 Hispanic Film Festival, Sept 25-29. This year’s films were selected by former Arts Council of the Valley (ACV) board member Karina Kline-Gabel, who has curated the festival for 19 years. The five-day film series focuses on celebrating Hispanic and Latinx cultures, and festival dates correlate with National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct 15). All films are presented or subtitled in English.

Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
The Long Game 
Chronicles of a Wandering Saint
Problemista

Tickets – available online at court square theater and at the door – are
$11.50 ($10 for seniors, $5 for students)

LAXC WEEK March 25-30

Next week we’re celebrating LAXC week, a series of events geared towards promoting our minor, celebrating our students, building community, and sharing all the wonderful work we do. See below for an itinerary of the different events we’ve planned. Faculty, staff, and students are all welcome to attend. Attached find promotional materials to share.

Monday March 25th 3:00-4:00pm at La Casita/Moody 102: “Meet the Faculty” with Drs. Diana Meza, Felix Wang, Verónica Haun, and Verónica Dávila Ellis. This student focused session is meant to provide space for meeting LAXC faculty, learning about potential classes, and ask any questions you might have!

Tuesday March 26th 2:30-3:30pm at La Casita: In partnership with Madison Center for Civic Engagement, “Voting Rights & Voting Barriers” a facilitated conversation about the history and policy implications of voting rights and barriers. Food provided.

Wednesday March 27th 11:00-4:00pm at Warner Commons: in partnership with the Dept of World Languages and Cultures “Exploring World Languages & Cultures” A Warner Commons takeover to engage with and learn about the variety of languages and cultures offered by FLLC. Food, games, and swag will be available. LAXC will promote the minor here as well.

Thursday March 28th 4:00-7:00pm at La Casita: Sip and Paint. Come get crafty with the LAXC interns and sip on some traditional non-alcoholic beverages from Latin America and the Caribbean. You’re welcome to bring a drink to share, we’ll provide the painting materials.

Saturday March 30th 1:00-4:00pm at UREC Kitchen: Cooking Class with Madison Hispanic Caucus.

Reading Tonight with our LAXC Creative Writers!

Tuesday, February 27th, 2023 |  5:30pm-6:30pm | The Union - Taylor 400

Our very own Jason Baltazar and Majo Delgadillo will be giving readings of their work TONIGHT! (Tuesday, February 27th) from 5:30-6:30PM in Taylor/The Union, room 400. Their respective readings will be followed by a Q&A with the audience.

We'd love to see you there - and please pass the word along to anyone you like! 

Events, applications, and more!

Please see the attached PDF (open image in new tab) for a list of upcoming events of interest, including a reminder that the AAAD conference is just days away, with several panels to check out and a keynote on Friday by Lorgia García Peña. Additionally, you'll find details about an event on Latino/a/x/e Citizenship and Labor Rights (March 22-23); for questions or student involvement, reach out to Fawn-Amber Montoya. Also included are links to the Faculty Fellows application (as mentioned in yesterday’s email) and the rolling Course Enhancement Grant application, offering up to $500 to incorporate high-impact teaching practices into your LAXC courses.

From Heat to Heritage: A 10,000-Year History of Chilies in the Prehispanic Americas

Friday, November 3rd, 2023 | 5pm–6:30pm | The Union - Taylor 405

Join us on a sizzling journey through time as we uncover the spicy history of chili peppers. From their fiery origins in the Americas to their global impact during the Columbian Exchange, these peppers have left an indelible mark on our world and on our plates. Dr. Katherine Chiou will discuss their origins, their important places in ancient lifeways, and their fascinating journey—and enduring impact—through the ages.

Leyendas de mi tierra (Stories from Home)

Sunday, October 29th, 2023 | van departs at 11am | Gala Hispanic Theater

Dr. Fawn-Amber Montoya and Kwyn Townsend Riley are taking a group of JMU students to the dance performance Leyendas de mi Tierra (Stories from Home) at the Gala Hispanic Theater in Washington, DC. The performance focuses on the stories of people in the southwestern United States. LAXC and POSC have sponsored a post-performance lecture by Dr. Myrriah Gomez, author of Nuclear Nuevo Mexico, which will discuss the impact of building the atomic bomb at Los Alamos. If you would like to attend and travel with HON and LAXC, please RSVP by filling out this form. The van will leave at 11am on Sunday for the 2pm performance and will return Sunday evening.

Stories from Home is a series of dances embodying the oral traditions of Nuevomexicano, Chicano, and Mexican American communities in the American Southwest. Choreographer Yvonne Montoya, a 23rd-generation Nuevomexicana, and an all-Mexican American cast of dancers draw upon personal histories and ancestral knowledge including stories from Montoya's great-grandmother, grandmother, great-aunts, and father. With palpable theatricality, moving spoken word, a movement aesthetic informed by vibrant ancestral and contemporary sources, and universal themes of love, family, and home, Stories from Home brings largely underrepresented Southwest Latino American experiences and histories to the stage.

The Gandhi Center is a sponsor of the performance. This will lower the cost for JMU students, faculty, and staff to $15 per ticket.

Please contact Dr. Montoya (montoyfa@jmu.edu) if you have any questions.

Queer Teach-in

Wedenesday, October 4th, 2023 | 4:30pm | Madison Union 256

Attend a day of lectures, workshops, performances, art, exhibits, and actions that center queer content. Bring your JAC for admittance. Contact Kristen Kelley kelle8km@jmu.edu. 

Migration, Religion, and Peacemaking in El Salvador

Monday, October 2nd, 2023 | 4:30pm | Burruss 0144

In a country affected by climatic change, lack of food in the basic food basket (BFB), common crime and gender-based violence, migration and corruption, Noemí is working to address these issues though a culture of peace programs.

Noemí Sánchez studied Business Administration from the University of El Salvador and serves on the Board of Directors of the Calvinist Reformed Church of El Salvador. She has put her faith and skills into practice by organizing youth workshops and community activities promoting peace and teaching peaceful inter-personal skills.

Crafting Commemorations: Dia de Los Muertos in the Shenandoah Valley

Thursday, October 5th, 2023 | 5:30pm–7:30pm | The Union Ballroom

Join this community as we expand our conversations about how JMU can create and support spaces that are authentic and respectful to honor Día de los Muertos in our communities.
Learn more about the Crafting Commemorations event on the JMU Libraries event page.

Latinx Keynote Speaker and Reception: Dr. Abel Chaves

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023 | 6:30pm | The Union Ballroom

Abel Chavez  is president of  Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. He is a first generation college student, and the son of Mexican immigrants. Dr. Chávez  completed his BS in Mechanical Engineering at University of Colorado Denver, an MBA from the University of Houston, and a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Colorado, Denver. Before becoming president of OLLU, he was the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success at Western Colorado University.
Learn more about the Latinx Keynote Speaker event on the Event Calendar.

DEEP Impact Dialogue: Celebrating Hisapnic Heritage Month

Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 | 7pm | SSC 1075

Come join the DEEP Impact Diversity Educators for a conversation for Hispanic Heritage Month!
Learn more about this DEEP Impact Dialogue event on the Event Calendar.

Latinx Faculty Panel and Lunch

Wednesday, September 20th, 2023 | 11am–1pm | SSC 1312, CMSS-SOGIE Suite

Come into the CMSS Latinx Student Lounge to hear from three Latinx professors at JMU. This panel and conversation will include a time to learn from faculty, engage in conversation, and share lunch together.

Salsa & Salsa Latinx Heritage Month Kick Off

Thursday, September 14th, 2023 | 6:30pm–7:30pm | UREC 129

Join CMSS, The Honors College, and Madison Hispanic Caucus in kicking off Latinx Heritage Month at JMU! Salsa & Salsa is an opportunity to make & try different salsas (with chips!) and dance some salsa! Join faculty & students to celebrate Latinx culture and identity in the United States.

U.S. Democracy and the Latino/a/x Community

Thursday, April 6 | 5pm | Hartmon Hall, Rm 2021

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Sergio Gonzalez from Marquette University, who will be speaking alongside a panel moderated by Dr. Robert Aguirre (Dean of the College of Arts and Letters) and consisting of faculty, community members, and advocates. Panelists will discuss political complexities of Latino/a/x communities and what that means for democratic engagement locally, nationally, and in terms of advocacy. 

LAXC- MHC Open House Week

March 27-30 | Times Vary | Moody Hall, Rm 102

LAXC is excited to announce our first ever Open House Week! All students are invited to participate in the variety of events we're hosting which are listed below. Enjoy brunch and lunch on us on Monday and Tuesday! Tie-Dye your own LAXC t-shirt (all materials will be provided and supplies are limited) on Wednesday! Get cozy and acquainted with our space and watch Disney's Encanto with us on Thursday, while we play different games like Uno and Lotería! 

Schedule:

Monday, March 27 | 11-2pm | Moody 102: Brunch will be catered from JMU Dining.

Tuesday, March 28 | 3-5pm | Moody 102: Come and enjoy tacos from Mi Pueblito Grill.

Wednesday, March 29 | 5-7pm | Moody 102/ Quad: Tie-Dye your own LAXC t-shirt for free! We'll wash your shirts too and have them available for you to pick up in the LAXC lounge by the end of the week! All materials will be provided including the shirt, but supplies and shirts are limited.

Thursday, March 30 | 7-9pm | Moody 102: Get comfy with LAXC and join us for our first game night! We'll be playing different games like Lotería and Uno and watching Disney's Encanto. Snacks and light refreshments will be provided too.

Conversations w/ the Experts: The Latino/a/x Experience as a Research Topic 

March 3 | 1-4pm | Holland-Yates Hall

Invited experts, Benny J. Andrés, Sarah Deutsch, and Daniel Morales, will share their current research topics and the variety of audiences where their work has reached can be models for undergraduate students. In small discussion groups, experts and JMU students will engage in an informal brainstorming session about research topics and experience regarding Latinx populations.

Civic Engagement Beyond Voting & Citizenship 

November 2 | 3-4pm | The Union, Taylor 405

Join JMU Civic, JMU LAXC, and JMU SLI for a film followed by a facilitated discussion on civic engagment and what it looks like wgen voting isn't an option! Popcorn will be provided!

SOMOS JMU Latinx Conference 

October 28 | 8:30am- 3pm | Festival Conference and Student Center

The Madison Hispanic Caucus and College of Arts & Letters will bring Latinx Virginia stakeholders together to network and share calls for action. 

The conference will offer various panels and presenters discussing current trends in Latinx topics such as: social justice, health, identity, representation, and how this population is reshaping the demographic in the Commonwealth and in the nation!

Honoring Día de los Muertos in the Shenandoah Valley

October 25 | 6:30pm-8pm | Rose Library, 3rd Floor- Flex Space

Join us Tuesday for Crafting Commemorations: Honoring Día de los Muertos in the Shenandoah Valley! This event, featuring Estela Knott, will discuss how to celebrate the holiday as well as reflect on its cultural significance. 

The Global Civil Rights Movement 

December 2 | 7-9pm | Festival Ballroom A

Join the Department of Philosophy and Religion for this symposium on the global civil rights movement, co-sponsored by the Office of the Associate Provost for Diversity; the College of Arts and Letters; the Department of Justice Studies; the Cohen Center for the Humanities; the Department of History; the Center for Civic Engagement; the African, African American, and Diaspora (AAAD) Studies Center; and Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean (LAXC) Studies, featuring keynote speaker, Dr. Iliana Yamileth Rodriguez. The event will be held in Ballroom A in Festival on East Campus from 7-9pm on December 2.

Exploring Día de los Muertos: Creating 'Altar'ed Spaces

November 11 | 7-8:15pm | Zoom

Join us for a virtual discussion of Día de los Muertos and its evolution in U.S. society. Participants will discuss the history and commercialization of Día de los Muertos and the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. Register: https://conta.cc/3GtOoij

This event is organized by students in HUM 252H, SCOM 447, and HON 200 and co-sponsored by the JMU's Institute for Constructive Advocacy and Dialogue, JMU Honors College, and JMU Libraries.

Warming the Campus Climate

October 25 | 4pm | Zoom

Join university leaders for a discussion on recruitment and retention of BIPOC faculty and students featuring Dania Matos, J.D., Vice Chancellor for Equity & Inclusion at the University of California, Berkley; Dr. Nina HA, Asian Cultural Center Director at Virginia Tech; and Kwadwo Assensoh of the Campus Center on Diversity and Community at the University of Oregon. This is a Discussions on Diversity event sponsored by AAAD, LAXC, APIDA, & The Office of the Provost.

Meet, Greet, Sip with AAAD and LAXC - Faculty Only

October 20 | 5:30-7pm | Pale Fire Brewing Co

Join us for a social gathering of old and new colleagues at Pale Fire Brewing Co on October 20. Beer will be available for purchase and light appetizers from Boboko will be provided. This event is for faculty and staff only.

American Exile Film Screening with John Valadez

October 18 | 6-8pm | Memorial Hall 4110 (Auditorium)

John Valadez produced the film, American Exile. Film will be shown and then a Q&A Session with director. Details of film: Two Brothers, Manuel and Valente Valenzuela, both volunteered and fought in Vietnam. Fifty years later, they are among thousands of U.S. military veterans, many with distinguished records, who are being deported. The brothers reluctantly put their uniforms on for one last time; to bring deported veterans and their families back home. Its a quixotic quest that leaves one brother exiled in a foreign country while the other will go all the way to the White House.

Madison Hispanic Caucus Banquet

October 14 | TBD | TBD

Join us for the Madison Hispanic Caucus Banquet. More details will be announced soon.

Haitian Migration & U.S. Policy - Virtual Panel

October 8 | 11:30-12:45pm | Zoom & YouTube

Join us for this fascinating virtual panel on Haitian migration and U.S. policy sponsored by AAAD, LAXC, JMU Civic, JMU Justice Studies, and JMU Political Science. You can find more information on the Facebook event page (https://fb.me/e/1L6MFERD9), join the Zoom call (https://bit.ly/jmuhaiti), or watch the live stream on YouTube (https://bit.ly/jmucivicyt).

JMU Civic Presents Who is Dayani Cristal?

October 7 | 6:30pm | Grafton Stovall Theater

Join JMU Civic for a screening of Gael García Bernal and Marc Silver's film, Who is Dayani Cristal? in Grafton Stovall Theater on October 7. For more information on the film, visit the website: https://whoisdayanicristal.com/about 

CMSS D.E.E.P. Impact Dialogue: Exploring Latinx History, Culture, and Identity

October 6 | 7:30-9:30pm | SSC 1075

Join CMSS for the second of our twice-monthly D.E.E.P. Impact Dialogue in Success Center 1075 on September 22. D.E.E.P. Impact Dialogue events aim to educate students on different aspects of diversity and create a brave and open space for engaging in conversation and learning from one another. Topics vary. For more information, contact Jordan Todd at toddja@jmu.edu. 

Hispanic Film Festival

September 29 - October 3 | Times Vary | Court Square Theater

Join us for at Court Square Theater in downtown Harrisonburg for the Hispanic Film Festival sponsored by Rockingham County, Virginia Commission for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and Arts Council of the Valley. Tickets for the event are $9.50 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $5 for students. 

Screenings include: La Llorona (Sat & Sun), I Carry You With Me (Wed & Thurs), Song Without a Name (Friday - 2 showings), and Dolores (Thurs & Sun)

LSA Heritage Week

September 27 - October 2

Join all of us in celebrating LSA Heritage Week. Keep an eye out for all the great events sponsored by CMSS and others during this week.

CMSS D.E.E.P. Impact Dialogue: Olmeca

September 23 | 7:30-9:30pm | Forbes

Join the Center for Multicultural Student Services and College of Arts & Letters in celebrating Latinx Heritage Month at JMU with speaker and performer Olmeca! Thursday, Sept 23, at Forbes Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 pm. Olmeca is a Hip-Hop artist, producer, activist and scholar who has been featured on BBC London, Complex Magazine, Noisey, Huffington Post, NPR, Democracy Now and CNN Latino. His music has been featured on various documentaries including PBS “Independent Lens”, and “Two Americans,” a documentary about the immigration issues in Arizona. Olmeca grew up in the barrios of L.A. and Mexico, a reality that brewed his blending of music genres and cultural sensitivity. While everyday people respect his lyrical content, music connoisseurs value the production, and educators utilize Olmeca’s music in their classrooms. For more information, contact Jordan Todd at toddja@jmu.edu. 

CMSS Latinx Fiesta on the Commons

September 15 | 4:30-6pm | The Commons

Join CMSS for the Latinx Fiesta on The Commons featuring SalsaBurg DJ and dance lessons. For more information, contact Rebeca Barge at bargers@jmu.edu.