Hispanic Appreciation Week begins Sunday night
In their continuing mission to promote awareness of Hispanic culture, members
of Razas Unidas will host the 28th Annual Hispanic Appreciation Week beginning
Sunday.
“It seems like everything is a black-and-white issue,” said Lila Hernandez,
Lansing junior, and group president. “On the TV all you see is Jennifer Lopez
and Ricky Martin. I think people need to expand their minds and open themselves
to a new culture.”
The week’s kickoff event is a movie night featuring Mi Familia, at 7 p.m.
Sunday in the Bovee University Center Maroon Room. The movie follows the lives
of three generations of a family.
“It’s the struggle of the first generation to get to the U.S. and the
other generations and the hard life they had,” Hernandez said. “It just
shows the strength of the family.”
Monday will feature the week’s keynote speaker Sandra Guzman. Guzman, born
in Puerto Rico and raised in New Jersey, has worked as a journalist, editor, producer
and manager for Hispanic-oriented television stations, newspapers and magazines.
She created a Web site for Hispanic women, www.soloella.com
and won an Emmy in 1995 for her half-hour film, “Embargo Contra Cuba,”
which analyzed the United States embargo on Cuba.
Guzman will speak on “Latino Mentorship Opportunities.”
“A lot of people had to struggle, so having older people as role models is
good to see that, as long as they work hard, they will have success,” Hernandez
said.
The Office of International Education will host a “Study Spanish Abroad Information
Session” at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the BUC Chippewa Room.
Rod Kirk, sociology, anthropology and social work chair, will speak on “Hispanic,
Latino, Chicano ... why isn’t one word enough?” at 7 p.m. Wednesday
the BUC Lake Michigan Room .
This speech is important because many people do not know the meaning of these
words and how to use them, Hernandez said.
CMU students will travel to Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, for
the Advocates for Latino Student Advancement in Michigan Education conference
from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 30.
College and high-school students will attend workshops on topics such as scholarship
and choosing a college as well as visit with college and university representatives.
“The conference is to encourage them and to help them decide what college
they want to go to,” Hernandez said. “It’s an opportunity to have
all these institutions together at the same time.”
The conference is aimed at Latino students, but others can attend. Anyone interested
in attending should contact *Juan Zamudio, Undergraduate Academic Services assistant
director at 774-3504.
The week will end with the 28th Annual Hispanic Appreciation Banquet from 5:30
to 8 p.m. March 31 in the BUC Rotunda. A chicken and beef fajita buffet will be
available at the banquet.
The Lansing group, Dulce, will play mariachi music, featuring violins and guitars.
Tickets are $6 for students and $8 for non-students. They can be purchased at
the door or the Office of Minority Student Services.
Laura Gonzalez, Bowling Green University student and former MSS director, will
tie together the week’s theme, “La Familia, the Center of it All: Strengthening
our bonds at home while creating new ones at CMU” at the banquet.
Gonzalez’s speech will focus on the importance of family for Hispanics.
The saying, “If all else fails, family will always be there,” demonstrates
the importance of family in the lives of Hispanics, Hernandez said.
Historically, Hispanics have always had strong family ties, she said.
“They had to work hard because they didn’t have much. They had more
kids to have more people working. The ties are so important, not just for work,
but also for support.”
Razas Unidas, or United People members, also participate in Hispanic Heritage
Month in September. The group meets at 7 p.m. Sundays in the faculty/staff lounge
in the Office of International Education in the BUC.
Members are currently hoping to expand their membership to non-Hispanics who also
wish to promote Hispanic culture.
For more information on any of the events, call MSS at 774-3945.
