Hispanic Heritage Month Events at College

Hispanic Heritage Month 2009 Events Celebrate 50th Anniversary
of SUNY Rockland Community College

Suffern, NY - The 22nd annual SUNY Rockland Community College Hispanic Heritage Month is kicking off its events with Latin jazz band, "INu Latin Unit," on the main campus in Suffern.

The featured events at the College include music, drama, lectures and the Hispanic Heritage Student Achievement Awards. All events are free and open to the public unless admission is specified.

Hispanic Heritage Month officially begins in the U.S. on September 15, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico declared its independence on September 16, and Chile on September 18.

Schedule of Events

Tuesday, September 15, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Cultural Arts Center Atrium

 "INu Latin Unit"

Latin Jazz

Free Admission

Refreshments will be served

INu Latin Unit (formerly Nu Guajiro) struck its first chords in Brooklyn, NY in 1995, long before Buena Vista Social Club and the current influx of Son Montuno groups hit Manhattan. They have toured the United States, Puerto Rico and Europe for private performances, festivals, radio and TV appearances. Nu Latin Unit blends a profound respect for tradition with a healthy dose of funky innovation and the grit of 10 years on New York City Streets.

September 15 – October 15

Art Exhibit

Cultural Arts Theater

Artist Gema Alava presents, Tell Me the Truth"

Free Admission

For more information, see the artist’s Web site: http://www.gemaalava.com/

Hours of exhibit: Call Eugenio Espinosa at 845-574.4567 for viewing hours.

Tuesday, September 22, 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Technology Center, Room 8180 (Ellipse)

Lecture: "Contemporary Latina Literary Anthologies of the 80s & 90s"

Dr. Karen McGovern, Associate Professor, English, will highlight salient points of her doctoral dissertation.

Free Admission

Refreshments will be served

Thursday, September 24, 11:00 a.m. – 12:15

Technology Center, Room 8180 (Ellipse)

Speaker: Gema Alava, Artist

Gema Alava was born in Madrid, Spain, in 1973. She studied at the Chelsea College of Art & Design in London, Facultad de Bellas Artes de Madrid, and the San Francisco Art Institute. She moved to New York in 2002, where she currently lives and works. One of her projects "A Dialogue" took place at the Solomon S. Guggenheim Museum in New York, in 2008, thanks to Cai Guo-Qiang’s collaboration.

Free Admission

Refreshments will be served

Thursday, October 1, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Academic 1, Room 1110

"Dominican Dream, American Reality"

Book Discussion with Dr. Jocelyn Santana, Author

Free Admission

Refreshments will be served

Tuesday, October 8

"The Seeds of the Future from the Roots of CASS:  Our Journey…"

Cooperative Association of States for Scholarships (CASS) Students

Free Admission

12:30-1:30 p.m.

Technology Center, Room 8180 (Ellipse)

Refreshments will be served

A PowerPoint presentation by the CASS students shares their journey from their native land to the United States.  The will also give a small native dance demonstration.

6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Haverstraw Center, 50 West Broad Street

Refreshments will be served

Event will feature a dance presentation from the CASS students

Tuesday, October 13, 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Technology Center, Room 8180 (Ellipse)

"Leadership in a Multicultural 21st Century"

Free Admission

Presenter: Felipe Luciano, Reporter, Poet and Activist

Born and raised in New York City, Felipe Luciano's commitment to community empowerment, ethnic pride and civil rights was pivotal in changing the color and complexion of politics, culture, and society.. From being the first Puerto Rican news anchor for WNBC and continuing on CBS-TV's Channel 2's The People and Fox-TV's Good Day New York and Street Talk with Ed Koch, Luciano has successfully challenged stereotypes and predicted changing trends. Today, Luciano regularly contributes articles to The New York Times and Essence while continuing his Spoken Word poetry, performing for HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, and Tropijazz and RMM Records.

Thursday, October 15, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Technology Center, Room 8180 (Ellipse)

Distinguished Faculty Lecture: "Women in Colonial Latin America"

Vanessa Lago-Barros, Instructor, Foreign Languages

Free Admission

Refreshments will be served

Monday, October 19, 6:30 p.m.

Hispanic Heritage Student Achievement Awards Ceremony

Cultural Arts Theater

Keynote Speaker: Ms. Lisa Reyes ’96, TV News Reporter

Honored recipients receive a $200 scholarship.

Students of Hispanic heritage and have earned 24 credits with a grade point average of at least 3.0 are eligible to apply. A selection committee chooses a candidate in each of the following categories: Academic Achievement, Artistic Talent, Athletic Accomplishments, and Personal Accomplishments. More info: Josephine Tarsia, Associate Professor, Foreign Languages, 845-574- 4170, jtarsia@sunyrockland.edu

Saturday, November 21, 8:00 p.m.

Play: "DeNovo, Part I, Lil’ Silent"

Cultural Arts Theater

Admission: $20 General Admission; $15 Penguin subscribers and RCC faculty and staff; $10 Students.

Performed by bilingual actors in English and Spanish, the play chronicles the true story of undocumented youth and their journey through the U.S. system of justice. Performance is in collaboration with the Penguin Repertory Company and the RCC Performing Arts Department. Panel discussion and reception will follow. For more information, contact (845) 574 – 4471.

For more information contact Cathlene Cruz, Chair, Hispanic Heritage Month Committee at (845) 574-4140 or ccruz@sunyrockland.edu or visit www.sunyrockland.edu

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Rockland Community College, a unit of the State University of New York, is located 25 miles northwest of NYC. The majority of its students transfer to four-year colleges, and many find immediate employment upon earning their associate's degree or certificate. The College also offers others, from preschoolers to senior citizens, the opportunity to simply learn something new. Quality education...at a price you can afford.