Call for Papers for Summer Institute 2007 – by 5/21
The 2007 MALCS Summer Institute site committee is currently seeking submissions for scholarly papers, panels proposals, workshops, roundtables, intimate circles, etc. for the 2007 Summer Institute at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus August 2-4.
The theme of this year’s Institute, “Among Women, Between Nations–Entre mujeres, entre naciones,” symbolizes both the intimacy and the sociopolitical complexity of our identities, relationships, and affiliations–between spaces and across borders. We hope to examine our commonalities as well as the things that separate us. We will make a conscious effort to address issues particular to indigenous women’s communities, as well as the transnational realities of Chicana/Latina lives.
Paper topics may include: Chicana/Latina feminisms, transnational feminisms, indigenous women, transnational migration, literary theory, afro-latinidades, the legal justice system, activist scholarship, community activism, sovereignty, political and gender-based violence, health, science studies, creative writing, poetry/performance, visual cultures, coalitions between women of color, media and visual culture, land issues, etc.
Workshop topics might include: getting into graduate school, how to set up a MALCS chapter, going on the job market, MALCS for Beginners, Tips for Tenure, Professional Development for undergrads (Research, writing a c.v., letters of rec), Balancing activism & scholarship. This list of themes suggests a wide array of topics. However, it is not meant to be exhaustive nor limiting in its scope.
Submissions from all disciplines, activist and community organizations are encouraged. Abstracts or descriptions of no more than 250 words, should be accompanied by: 1) the TITLE of the paper, panel, roundtable, workshop or other presentation; 2) NAME(S) of all presenters or facilitators & their academic/ institutional/ organizational or community affiliations; 3) EMAIL address and any other relevant contact information.
Deadline for submission: EXTENDED TO MAY 21, 2007. Send to: malcs@umn.edu or torre007@umn.edu Or: Dr. Edén Torres, 425 Ford Hall 224 Church St SE Mpls., MN 55455
Download the Call for Papers as an MSDoc here
See complete information at the Minnesota Summer Institute blog / website
Memorias del Silencio
Memorias del Silencio: Footprints of the Borderlands – 
El objetivo del proyecto era ofrecer talleres de creación literaria a clases de GED (equivalencia de preparatoria) para trabajadores del campo y sus familias, con la idea de mejorar sus técnicas de escritura y de lectura. Este libro contiene historias que hablan del trabajo en los campos de Estados Unidos, y de la condición de los emigrantes en éste país. Fue muy bien recibido por el público, y después de que los fondos proporcionados por la ciudad de El Paso terminaran, BorderSenses y El Paso Community College, Community Education Program decidieron continuar con el proyecto para la publicación del Segundo Volumen de Memorias del Silencio: Footprints of the Borderland en 2006.
The objective of the project was to bring creative writing workshops to GED courses for migrant farm workers and their families, with the idea of improving their writing and written skills. This book contains stories that speak of the work in the fields of the United States, and of the condition of the immigrants in this country. It was very well received by the public, and after the funding ended, BorderSenses and El Paso Community College, Community Education Program decided to continue the project for the publication of the Second Volume of Memorias del Silencio: Footprints of the Borderland on 2006.
You can read some of the selections here
Filed under New Publications | Comment (0)Transgender Chicana runs for Prom King in Fresno
FRESNO, Calif. – When school officials announce the name of the Fresno High School prom king on Saturday, Cinthia Covarrubias will be wearing a tuxedo just like the six boys vying for the honor. Administrators agreed to reverse a district protocol this week that limited males to compete for the title after Covarrubias was nominated by her classmates.
“I would never have run for anything if I had to wear a dress,” said Covarrubias, who considers herself transgender, an umbrella term that covers all people whose outward appearance and internal identity don’t match their gender at birth.
Gay youth advocates called it a landmark victory for campus gender expression and said they believe it’s the first time in the U.S. that an openly transgender student has run for prom royalty.
Filed under Members in the news | Comment (0)Who knows the future of literature?
From a recent commentary by El Paso Times guest columnist Christine Granados:
When the guero is finished with his talk, I buy his book so I can ask him what role he thinks Chicano literature is going to play in American letters. And because I asked straight up like that, he couldn’t bring up Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who we both know ain’t Mexican-American. The pobre had to answer something, and you know what he told me? He just doesn’t see it having a big role in literature, such as other media and the Internet.
This post swiped directly from ysletapoeta
Filed under Members in the news | Comment (0)Congrats to Ana Juárez for NSF UG Research grant
Congratulations to Texas State University Anthropology professor Ana Juárez for receiving NSF funding for the “Research Experience for Undergraduate Site on Culture and Globalization in Highland Guatemala” program. The three-year multi-institutional grant will provide funding for students from four institutions to conduct research in Guatemala, including students from Texas State University-San Marcos.
MALDEF seeks immig veterans with perm residence
From: Nina Perales [mailto:]
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 10:45 AM
Subject: RE: Request from MALDEF
Dear MALCISTAS:
Please take a moment to review this email and consider whether you know anyone who could help us. My office is interested in speaking with Latinas or Latinos who have served in the U.S. armed forces while legal permanent resident immigrants of the U.S. If you know anyone who meets this description, who is in Texas, has left the military and is willing to talk to MALDEF, we would appreciate it very much. We are holding these conversations to gather information about access to free public university tuition for immigrants who served in the military. Many legal permanent residents have served in the U.S. military; we intend to advocate on behalf of these veterans and ensure their participation in the program that offers free tuition at Texas public colleges and universities.
Thank you very much.
Nina Perales / nperales@MALDEF.org
MALDEF Southwest Regional Counsel
110 Broadway Suite 300, San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 224-5476 ph / (210) 224-5382 fax
Congrats to Antonia, NACCS Scholar 2007!
The National Association of Chicana & Chicano Studies (NACCS) is this week/end….and will feature the 2007 NACCS Scholar Award for Dr. Antonia Castaneda’s “lifetime of scholarly achievements, 
longstanding commitment to NACCS and its future development, unwavering dedications towards undergraduate students, graduate students, young scholars and colleagues. A professor at St. Mary’s University in Texas, Castañada has mentored Chicana/o students to present their work at national conferences and encouraged the development of Chicana/o studies for several decades. Through her scholarly writings, she has challenged and transformed the fields of Chicano/a Studies, California history and western history by focusing on issues of sexuality, gender, and conquest.”
Read full entry at NACCS; see conference info here…
Filed under Congratulations! | Comment (0)