Feb. 18-20: Abriendo Brecha Activist Scholarship Conference

Abriendo Brecha VII
Seventh Annual Activist Scholarship Conference at the University of Texas at Austin
FEBRUARY 18-20 (9:30AM – 5:00PM)
The Texas Union (main campus of UT Austin)

Abriendo Brecha is an annual conference at the University of Texas at Austin dedicated to activist scholarship; i.e. research and creative intellectual work in alignment with communities, organizations, movements and networks working for social justice. Abriendo Brecha VII calls for a renewed discussion on the meanings and practices of activist scholarship, particularly as it relates to the challenges of the present moment. Some themes for this year’s conference include: Race and Inequality throughout the Americas; Environmental Justice Movements; and The Global Economic Crisis. This year’s conference will consist of a mixed format that includes panels, workshops, poster presentations, performances and film. Featured speakers and artists include:

+ Iris Morales—Activist, filmmaker and former leading member of the Young Lord’s Party. (Keynote) Thursday, 5pm, Santa Rita Room

+ Omi Osun Olomo/Joni Jones—Director, John. L. Warfield Center for African & African American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. (Keynote). Friday, 12pm, Santa Rita Room

+ Javier Auyero—Lozano Long Professor of Latin American Sociology, University of Texas at Austin. Friday, 2pm, Texas Union Theater

+ Alejandro Cerda—sociologist at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana de México, Unidad Xochimilco; expert on autonomy in Zapatista municipailites in Chiapas. Saturday, 4pm, Chicano Culture Room

+ Eli Efi— former front man and founder of the politically charged Brazilian rap group DMN. Friday, 5pm, Texas Union Theater

+ Hilda Kurtz—Associate Professor of Geography, University of Georgia. Friday, 2pm, Texas Union Theater

+ Loira Limbal (aka DJ Laylo)—Hiphop artist, co-producer of award winning documentary “Estilo Hip Hop.” Friday, 5pm, Texas Union Theater

+ Adrienne Pine—Assistant Professor of Anthropology, American University, and author of Working Hard, Drinking Hard: On Violence and Survival in Honduras. Saturday, 4pm, Chicano Culture Room

+ Max Rameau—Community organizer, writer and leader of Miami’s Take Back the Land. Saturday, 4pm, Chicano Culture Room

+ Alvaro Reyes—post-doctoral fellow, Department of Geography, Duke University. Friday, 4pm, Chicano Cultures Room

+ Julie Sze— Associate Professor of American Studies, founding director of the Environmental Justice Project for UC Davis’ John Muir Institute for the Environment. Friday, 2pm, Texas Union Theater.

For full conference program visit: www.utexas.edu/diversity/abriendobrecha

Sponsored by: Division of Diversity and Community Engagement (DDCE) Community Engagement Center at The University of Texas at Austin. Cosponsors: Center for Asian American Studies, Center for Mexican American Studies, Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, College of Liberal Arts, John L. Warfield Center for African & African American Studies, Mexican Center, Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies.

Feb. 4: Novelist Salvador Plascencia reads from and discusses his work

Salvador Plascencia is the acclaimed author of “The People of Paper,” a Los Angeles Times Favorite Book and San Francisco Chronicle Book of the Year.
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
Location: Carothers Dormitory (CRD), Joynes Reading Room, 007
Admission: Free
URL: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/progs/plan2/events

Feb. 4-6: Student Conference on Latin America held on campus

XXX Annual ILASSA Student Conference
February 4–6, 2010
The University of Texas at Austin
Thompson Conference Center
Free and open to the public

The Student Conference on Latin America, organized by the Institute of Latin American Studies Student Association (ILASSA) at The University of Texas at Austin, is an interdisciplinary forum for students involved in Latin American research topics. The conference provides students with the opportunity to present research activities, develop presentational skills, exchange ideas and information, and meet other scholars from around the world. The conference, now in its 30th year, is the oldest and largest student conference in the field of Latin American Studies.
View more information and download the program of events:
http://www.utexas.edu/cola/insts/llilas/conferences/ILASSA-XXX.php

Latinitas Internship Opportunity

Latinitas (www.latinitasmagazine.org) is accepting applications for after school program leaders for its elementary, middle and high school Club Latinitas and iMedia clubs. Latinitas is the first digital magazine made for and by young Latinas and is also a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Hispanic girls through media and technology. Club activities include lessons in writing, editing, web and graphic design, photography, radio and video broadcast and more. Leaders manage clubs including 10 – 15 Hispanic girls and/or teens. Training is provided.
The ideal intern will have excellent written and verbal communication skills. Interns should be organized, resourceful, creative, enthusiastic, and proactive. We are looking for someone who is able to work independently as well as part of a team. Experience working with children preferred. Bilingual volunteers are encouraged to apply. This position is recommended for students with a major in communications, social work, or education. Interns must be computer literate, demonstrating proficiency with Microsoft Office and Internet navigation. Interns must be able to establish and maintain a good rapport and harmonious relationships with students, staff, and school administrators. Having a car is encouraged, but not required.
Latinitas provides an educational paid stipend at the successful completion of this internship position. Volunteer leaders are welcome, too. Many interns arrange to receive academic and/or service learning credits for their work through their school. Position starts asap; interns must be willing to commit 10 hours per week for an entire school year. Interns must be available from 2:00-6:00pm at least two days a week – Mon.- Fri. Hours and days of work are flexible.
Job Responsibilities:
• Mentors youth and develop a one-on-one relationship with youth
• Co-facilitates a media empowerment program for girls (4th-12th graders)
• Collaborates with another community educator to lead group sessions
• Plans and assists at media and technology workshops
• Develops and implements curriculum for after-school program
• Act as a liaison between Latinitas and school personnel
• Assists in our survey data collection and data entry
• Organize field trips, special events & projects as needed
• Promotes program on school campuses and recruits club members
• Acts as editor for junior reporters
To apply: Email resume to intern@latinitasmagazine.org and complete application at www.latinitasmagazine.org. Please send a resume, also to latinitasleslie@yahoo.com

Pew Center Report: Hispanics in the News

Hispanics in the News: An Event-Driven Narrative
(12.7.2009) A study of more than 34,000 news stories that appeared in major media outlets finds that most of what the public learns about Hispanics comes not through focused coverage of the life and times of this population group but through event-driven news stories in which Hispanics are one of many elements.
From February 9 to August 9, 2009, only a fraction of stories contained substantial references to Hispanics–just 645 out of 34,452 studied. And only a tiny number, 57 stories, focused directly on the lives of Hispanics in the U.S., according to a media content analysis done jointly by the Project for Excellence in Journalism and the Pew Hispanic Center, both of which are projects of the Pew Research Center.
Read the full report from the Pew Hispanic Center.

Network Television Diversity Report Cards: 2008-2009 Primetime

We are celebrating the 10th anniversary of a national movement to change the face of television in this country. In 1999 – 2000, the Multi-Ethnic Media Coalition, a group comprised of the National Latino Media Council (NLMC), the National Asian/Pacific American Media Coalition, the NAACP and the American Indians in Film and Television, persuaded the four major television networks, ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, to sign unprecedented Memoranda of Understanding. Before these memoranda were signed, we saw much fewer people of color on television than we do today.
The Memoranda serve to diversify the networks’ workforce both in front and behind the camera and to open up procurement opportunities for people of color. These initiatives have incrementally increased diversity over the past ten years; however, the job is far from complete. In 1999, Greg Braxton, of the Los Angeles Times, wrote that out of the 24 new shows debuting at ABC, NBC CBS, and FOX, there was not one single person of color in a lead or regular role. Ten years later, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) reports the following breakdown of film and TV roles for 2008: 72.5% Caucasian, 13.3% African-American, 6.4% Latino-Hispanic, 3.8% Asian & Pacific Islander, .03% Native American and 3.8% other/unknown.
Read the full story on the National Association of Independent Latino Producers, NALIP, site.

Internship in Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS)

Internship position available
Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS)
(Spring semester 2010)
LLILAS is recruiting UT undergraduate students to work as interns during the Spring semester 2010. This internship is a great opportunity for students interested in pursuing graduate degrees or working in Latin American affairs, international public policy, international education, as well as in any social sciences discipline. This is an unpaid internship and the commitment for the intern would involve 10 hours per week during office hours.
PURPOSE OF THIS POSITION: to provide support to a broad range of international initiatives and public programs organized at the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Demonstrated organizational skills. Demonstrated regular and punctual attendance at work and professional demeanor. Proficiency in Spanish and or Portuguese is a plus. Experience with electronic calendars, internet, printers, FileMaker Pro, Microsoft Word and Excel a plus. Knowledge of the Institute’s mission and programs a plus.
FUNCTIONS:
o Carrying out internet-based research for public programs
o Supporting the organization of public events
o If the student is bilingual, translating documents (letters, articles, website info)
o Running errands on campus, mail processing & delivery
The interns should be ready to start in the first week of classes of the spring semester 2010.
TO APPLY PLEASE SEND A COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO: Paloma Diaz by e-mail,

between now and January 10, 2010 (We do encourage early applications). If you have any questions please contact us by email or by telephone: 232-2415 or p.diaz@austin.utexas.edu

SPJ Mark of Excellence Competition for College Journalists Entry Deadline

The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) has opened its Mark of Excellence competition for college journalists. The application deadline is: January 27, 2010.
Annually, the Society of Professional Journalists presents the Mark of Excellence Awards honoring the best in student journalism. The awards offer categories for print, radio, television and online collegiate journalism. Entries are first judged on the regional level. Regional award winners will be honored at the spring conferences. First place regional winners are forwarded on to the national competition. National winners will be honored at the 2010 SPJ Convention & National Journalism Conference in Las Vegas.
The contest is open to anyone enrolled in a college or university in the U.S. studying for an academic degree in 2009. Students who have had full-time, professional journalism experience, outside of internships, are not eligible. Entries must have been published or broadcast during the 2009 calendar year.
For more information, and to access application forms, please visit:
http://www.spj.org/a-moe.asp

La Poderosa Media Project Screening

La Poderosa Media Project will be screening “Cachuda” on Saturday November 14, 2009 as part of the 18th Colloquium on Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Literatures and Linguistics , sponsored by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at The University of Texas at Austin.

The screening will be held in the Sinclair Suite at the Texas Union (Room 3.128) at 3.50pm and will be followed by a brief question and answer session with the program’s Executive Director, Alejandra Zambrano, Communications Director, Joseph Pierce, and Curricular Coordinator, Jorge García.

“Cachuda” is a short film that was shot and produced in the summer of 2009 by high school age students from Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador and is the most recent film produced by La Poderosa Media Project , a non-profit organization based in Austin, Texas that encourages empowerment, cultural competence, and intercultural translation through digital media and service learning programs.

We would like to invite you all to come to this special screening and to learn more about our next project: Bahía de Caráquez 2010.

Ilan Stavans, Author of “The Hispanic Condition,” to Speak on Campus

The Carnegie Distinguished Lecture Series presents a Q&A session with Ilan Stavans
Mexican-born professor of Latin American and Latino Culture at Amherst College, author of the best-selling “The Hispanic Condition,” and internationally acclaimed expert on the language and identity of U.S. Latinos.

Thursday, Nov. 12
12.00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
CMA 5.160
College of Communication
The University of Texas at Austin
Free and open to the public

The Carnegie Distinguished Lecture Series is sponsored by the School of Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin and the College of Communication Latino Media Studies Program and is made possible by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
For questions or more information, contact Dr. Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez at mrivas@mail.utexas.edu.

Ilan Stavans