Pitt’s annual International Week, sponsored by the University Center on International Studies, will kick off with two festivals — one celebrating Latin America and the Caribbean and another focusing on Eastern Europe.
The 40th Latin American & Caribbean Festival will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Oct. 15 on the Posvar Hall patio. The mission of the festival, sponsored by the Center for Latin American Studies, is to showcase the cultures of Latin America in Pittsburgh and to inform the students and the general public of the resources that can be found in Pittsburgh. It has become one of the largest gatherings of Latinos in Western Pennsylvania.
The Eastern European Festival will be from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 16 in the Cathedral of Learning Commons Room. This event is co-hosted by the Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs and the Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies. It will feature culture, cuisine and live performances by local acts, student/academic organizations, and local diaspora organizations.
Other events during the week include:
International Food Trucks: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 18, William Pitt Union plaza
International Speed Friending: Time TBD, Oct. 17, William Pitt Union. The English Language Institute is hosting this free event for anyone from international students at Pitt looking to make American friends to native English speakers interested in meeting people from different cultures.
OIS Symposium: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 17, University Club. The Office of International Studies holds this symposium every year to help educate Pitt faculty and staff about important issues related to immigration and the University’s international community.
Lecture: The Kimono: From Tradition To High Fashion: 3-4 p.m. Oct. 17, 4130 Posvar Hall. This presentation by Melissa Marra-Alvarez, curator of education and research at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, will examine the kimono as a sophisticated garment that has continually influenced the evolution of fashion.
Exhibit: Nationality Rooms And Intercultural Exchange Programs Scholarship Poster Showcase: 4-6 p.m. Oct. 18, Alumni Hall, Connolly Ballroom. The poster session by scholarship recipients showcases the study programs, internships, and research they pursued during their summer 2022 global learning experiences.
Conference: How Can We Take A People-Centered Approach To Engage With Our Places?: Virtual, Oct. 19-20. Pitt, Newcastle University in the United Kingdom, and colleagues from across the globe will participate in a virtual collaborative conference, which will explore and share best practices on how universities advance place-based approaches through community and student engagement and importantly how we measure our impact and demonstrate accountability to our communities and stakeholders. Register here.
Find a full list of activities on the International Week website.