ODU to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Variety of Events, Activities

From Sept. 15 until Oct. 15, Old Dominion University will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a diverse lineup of speakers, performers, food and cultural connection opportunities.

The series of events is designed to showcase ODU's vibrant, diverse campus, while acknowledging the contributions of and exploring the multifaceted dynamics within the school's Hispanic and Latino communities. The events will reflect the 2011 Hispanic Heritage Month theme - Mantener la Promesa: Unidad, Fuerza, Liderazgo (Keeping the Promise: Unity, Strength, Leadership).

"The Office of Intercultural Relations is committed to creating an inclusive campus culture that educates and celebrates our diverse student body, staff and faculty," said Lesa Clark, OIR assistant dean.

The showcase event of Hispanic Heritage Month is an evening of food, community and connection on Monday, Sept. 19, in the north cafeteria of Webb Center. Co-sponsored by the Hispanic and Latino Employee Association and OIR, it will feature guest speaker Carlos Campo, president of Regent University. The program, which begins at 6 p.m., also includes music performed by Tumbao Salsero.

Below is a list of the other events planned for Hispanic Heritage Month:

• Thursday, Sept. 15 - noon to 2 p.m.: The Intercultural Center, located in Room 2114 Webb Center, will be turned into International Café: Cuba, a place for international and American students, faculty and staff to gather to learn more about Cuban culture.
• Thursday, Sept. 15 - 5-6 p.m.: The documentary "The Other Side of Immigration" will be shown in the north cafeteria of Webb Center. Immediately following the screening, there will be a forum on immigration issues, featuring Emily Sumner of Sumner Immigration Law, Jennifer Mendez of the College of William and Mary and Rene Perez Lopez of ODU.
• Monday, Sept. 26 - 3-4 p.m.: The panel forum "Identity, Culture and Religion in the Spanish-speaking World" will be held in the north cafeteria of Webb Center. Panelists include Martha Daas, ODU associate professor of foreign languages and literatures, and Mavel Velasco of Virginia Wesleyan College.
• Wednesday, Sept. 28 - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Jose Galvez will share his compelling Latino photos in an exhibition in the North Mall of Webb Center. He will speak about his work at 3 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 29 - 6 p.m.: A live theatre performance by the renowned ensemble Tres Vidas, celebrating the life of three legendary Latino and South American women, will be held in the Diehn Fine and Performing Arts Center.
• Monday, Oct. 3 - 7-9 p.m.: Café con Leche, an evening featuring dance performances, slam poetry, a salsa band and dance, will be held in the north cafeteria of Webb Center. The event is sponsored by the Latino Student Alliance.
• Tuesday, Oct. 4 - 3-4 p.m.: Edwin Gomez, ODU associate professor of human movement sciences, will give a lecture on "Latinos and Their Leisure Lifestyles" in the Intercultural Center.

All of the Hispanic Heritage Month events are free and open to the public. For more information call 683-4406.