Sister talk sip and paint September 2022

Join us as we celebrate Latinx Heritage Month 2023! This year's events will be in a hybrid format (in-person and virtual). Contact Valentina Gamboa-Turner at v-gamboa-turner@neiu.edu with any questions.

Hispanic-Serving Institution Week Kickoff
B Building Unity/UNIDOS Block Party

1:00-4:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14
Pedroso Center, Room B 159

Celebrating National Hispanic Serving Institute Week and to kick off our Latinx Heritage month programing. The Pedroso Center welcomes students, staff and the community to join us for some food, art and dancing with DJ and artist Victor Montanez and hip hop artist Almighty Blessings. B Building departments including Nontraditional Degree Programs, Honors Program, McNair Scholars, University Technology Service, Counseling Services, Career Development and Pedroso Center. 

La Copa SOccer Tournament 

9:00 a.m.-noon Saturday Sept. 16
Recreation Field

Teams will be 7 vs. 7, which includes the keeper. We will assign players to teams to evenly distribute age, gender and skill level. The goal for the tournament is to HAVE FUN! There will be a total of five teams. Each team will play each other once; thus each team will play a total of four times. The games will last 20 minutes, divided into two 10‐minute halves. Sign-up required to participate.

Sign up to play

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Valentina Gamboa-Turner at v-gamboa-turner@neiu.edu.

sister talk: meet the latina co-editors of latina/o/x education in chicago: roots, resistance and transformation

1:00-3:00 p.m. Central Time
Wednesday, Sept. 20
Pedroso Center, Room B 159

Meet the co-editors of Latina/o/x Education in Chicago: Roots, Resistance and Transformation. 

These three co-editors, Dr. Isaura Pulido, Dr. Angelica Rivera and Dr. Ann Avilés are Chicago-based scholars who will share their journey in documenting Chicago community narratives on access to education. 

Sign up in advance for this event.

After signing up, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Art Making

1:00-3:00 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27
Pedroso Center, Room B 159

The INAUGURAL pedroso Center homecoming with keynote double alumni alderperson jessica fuentes

5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Central Time
Tuesday, Oct. 17
Pedroso Center, Room B 159

Double alumnus of Justice Studies and MACTL,  Alderperson Jessica Fuentes and founding member of the Pedroso Center. Fuentes will be the first woman to lead the 26th Ward. The 32-year-old community organizer will also be the ward’s youngest leader and the first queer Latina to step into the role.

Sign up in advance for this meeting.

After signing up, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

drawing deportation: art and resistance among immigration children: keynote silvia rodriguez-vega

11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Central Time
Thursday, Oct. 5
Pedroso Center, Room B 159

Silvia Rodriguez-Vega is an interdisciplinary scholar and assistant professor at UCSB’s Department of Chicana/o Studies. She is a community-engaged writer, artist, and educational practitioner. Her research explores the ways anti-immigration policy impacts the lives of immigrant children through methodological tools centering on participatory art and creative expression. 

Her first book, "Drawing Deportation: Art and Resistance among Immigrant Children" (NYU Press, 2023) argues that immigrant children are not passive in the face of the challenges presented by U.S. anti-immigrant policies. Based on 10 years of work with immigrant children in two different border states — Arizona and California — "Drawing Deportation" gives readers a glimpse into the lives of immigrant children and their families. Through an analysis of 300 children’s drawings, theater performances, and family interviews this book, at once devastating and revelatory, provides a roadmap for how art can provide a necessary space for vulnerable populations to assert their humanity in a world that would rather divest them of it. SilviaSiSePuedeTwitter

Sign up in advance for this meeting.

After signing up, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

indigenous peoples day meet & greet
keynote speaker: edward anthony palonco 

Noon-2:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9
Pedroso Center, Room B 159

A panel discussion with students, staff and community partners engaging the questions around cultural identity and historical understandings of how our African and Indigenous heritage is intertwined.

For more information, contact Fawn E. Pochel at f-pochel@neiu.edu.  

Justice Studies Teach-in: Movement for INDIGENOUS Peoples day Chicago

Noon- 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11
Pedroso Center, Room B 159

This event is focused on sharing insights into the political and performative movement to abolish Columbus Day and the push to replace the holiday with Indigenous Peoples Day, specifically grounded to the movement working within the city of Chicago.

For more information, contact Fawn E. Pochel at f-pochel@neiu.edu

Let's talk about it: Solidarity Work luncheon part 1

12:30-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12
Pedroso Center, Room B 159