Latino Education and Advocacy Day celebration Oct. 14
Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc., along with La Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, will be hosting Latino Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) on Saturday, Oct. 14 from 1-5 p.m. in the Jamestown Room in Squires Student Center at Virginia Tech. The event is free and open to the public.
The LEAD event begins with a lunch consisting of a variety of traditional Latin American dishes. During this time, attendees can spend time examining display boards, brochures, and other items from Latino clubs and organizations on the Virginia Tech campus, and can also register to vote.
Immediately following lunch, a panel discussion will take place about how Latinos at Virginia Tech, in the local community, and nationally are affected by voting and immigration. Rick Shingles, associate professor of political science in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences; Gresilda A. Tilley-Lubbs, assistant professor of second language education/ESL in the School of Education; and Ray Plaza, projects specialist for diversity initiatives in the Office of Multicultural Affairs will participate in the discussion.
The program will conclude with a screening of the film “El Norte" a film about a brother and sister who must flee to "El Norte" ("the North", i.e., the USA) in order to escape a massacre in Guatemala. “El Norte” is rated R for profanity and brief nudity.
Latino Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) is a national college day of action that takes place during Hispanic Heritage Month, and was initiated by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), located in Washington, D.C. NCLR is the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States and works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans.
LEAD is designed to promote advocacy on Latino community issues, and to educate the public about the Latino presence in American society. More than just a day of awareness, LEAD is an opportunity to address the concerns of the broader Latino community with students and members of the college campus community.
Other colleges and universities participating in LEAD include: San Francisco State University, Yale University, Florida State University, Georgia Tech, James Madison University, and Radford University.
Visit the National Council of La Raza to learn more about Latino Education and Advocacy Day or the National Council of La Raza. For more information on the LEAD event at Virginia Tech, contact Adina Young at (757) 303-4154.
