Saturday, September 26, 2009

Hispanic Heritage Month

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (15 Sep to 15 Oct), Govt 485-005: The Role of Latinas in American Politics will host several outstanding Latina/o Guest Speakers and will be open to Women & Politics Institute and SPA students.

Sep 17: Guest Speaker: Mark Lopez, PEW Hispanic Center (on AU’s Podcast Website)

Sep 24: Alma Morales Riojas, MANA, A National Latina Organization

Oct 1: Antonieta Cadiz, Washington Correspondent, La Opinion

Oct 8: Linda Chavez, The Equal Opportunity Center

Classes are held on Thursdays from 6 pm to 8 pm in Ward 105.

For more information, please contact linda.patterson@american.edu

This class examines the cross-cutting cleavages of race, class, ethnicity and gender in the political struggles of the U.S. Latina population. We investigate the role of the Latina public officials, activists and the electorate in shaping state and national politics.

For the first time at American University, The Role of Latinas in American Politics (Govt 485-005) is being offered by the Women & Politics Institute. This course examines the cross-cutting cleavages of race, class, ethnicity and gender in the political struggles of the U.S. Latina population. We are investigating the role of Latina public officials, activists and the electorate in shaping state and national politics. This class includes special guest speakers from around Washington who bring their own expertise on Latinas in American politics.

So far, guest speakers have included Carmen Delgado Votaw, Civil Rights Activists; Mark Lopez of the PEW Hispanic Center (on AU’s Podcast Website); and Alma Morales Riojas, President of MANA, A National Latina Organization.

Upcoming speakers are Antonieta Cadiz, Washington Correspondent of La Opinion; Linda Chavez, Chair of The Equal Opportunity Center; Sandra Grossman, Esq. of Grossman Law, LLC and Brigida Benitez, Esq. of WilmerHale, LLP; Miryam Granthon, Special Assistant to the Director in the Office of Minority Health at the Department of Health and Human Services; Marguerite Jimenez, Assistant Director, Council on Latin America and AU School of Public Affairs, and Cristina López of the National Hispana Leadership Institute.

During the question and answer period, students are able to interact with these leaders and gain from their extensive experience in Latina politics.