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.