Pitt’s third Latinx Connect conference, sponsored by the Center for Ethnic Studies Research, will be three days of in-person and virtual seminars March 21 to 24, on the theme of “¡Imaginemos Juntos! Dialogues on Thriving Latinx Futures.”
The aim of the conference is to move beyond “celebrating” the Latinx community, but instead to envision ways to empower and support thriving futures for diverse Latinx communities at local, national and global levels and to discuss how Latinx intersects with other identities — including Afro, Indigenous, queer and undocumented — particularly in areas such as education, public health, arts and history.
Latinx is the largest pan-ethnic group in the United States and is extremely diverse by race, gender, language, immigration, and experiences along the diaspora, which creates opportunity for dialogue.
The conference kicks off with a virtual welcome keynote speech at 9 a.m. March 21 by Maria Montaño, communications director for Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and is the official spokeswoman for the city of Pittsburgh — the first transgender person to hold these positions and the highest-ranking Latina in Pittsburgh government.
Other conference highlights include:
12:15 p.m. March 21 (virtual): Keynote by Nancy Lopez, professor of sociology at the University of New Mexico, titled “No se puede tapar el sol con un dedo/You Can't Cover the Sun with a Finger." It will focus on keeping separate questions on race and ethnicity in federal standards and the urgency of intersectionality as a new vision for advancing equity in Latinx communities.
4:30-8 p.m. March 21 (in-person): Opening reception at the Latin American Cultural Center. 4338 Bigelow Blvd. Visitors can tour the Mexican Masks exhibit before a Community Leader Panel at 5:30 p.m. on “Supporting the Thriving of Local Latinx Communities.”
12:15 p.m. March 22 (virtual): Film trailer and discussion with co-directors of CiNEOLA, a platform for Latin American stories, connecting audiences with diverse representations of Latinoamérica on film.
3:30 p.m. March 22 (virtual): Panel discussion on “Sankofa: Reclaiming Afro-Latinx Narratives in the Arts”
11 a.m. March 23 (in-person): Closing reception with Jason Méndez, a Boricua nonfiction writer, playwright and educator based in Pittsburgh, New York City and Puerto Rico. Currently, he is the writer-in-residence at the New Hazlett Theater, where he is working toward debuting his new play, “Sons of the Boogie.” Frick Fine Arts building, 650 Schenley Dr.
Concurrent sessions will be held through March 21 and 22, with panels, workshops, and lightning round talks.
There is no cost to attend the conference and all are welcome. Stay up to date on the conference website.
For any questions, contact latinxconnect@pitt.edu.