Library launches program series surrounding Latino American experience

On October 9th, the UCR Library hosted a kickoff reception to launch a year of programming supported by the Latino Americans 500 Years of History grant. Awarded to the library earlier this year by the National Endowment of Humanities (NEH) and the American Library Association (ALA), the grant funds a series of programs focused on the Latino American experience. Events over the course of the next year will include documentary screenings and performances by project scholars.

Paul D’Anieri, Vice-Chancellor and Provost of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Steven Mandeville-Gamble, University Librarian discussed UCR’s role as a Hispanic Serving Institution and champion of diversity, and the library’s commitment to supporting that effort. Drs. Tiffany Lopez, Jonathan Ritter, and Jennifer Najera detailed their involvement in the year’s events, and program partner UCR Chicano Student Programs provided insight into the potential effect of these programs on their student populations. Community members in attendance shared stories about their lives and work in the community to promote continued and renewed interest in Latino Chicano American heritage and history.

The ALA and NEH designed the Latino Americans 500 Years of History grant to be inclusive of all members of the campus and local communities. Project partners such as the Center for Social Justice, Spanish Town Heritage Foundation, and several branches of Riverside Public Library will provide venues for some of the year's programs.

"We hope that this grant will foster a tradition of collaborative curriculum and promote further interest in the preservation of local community history," said grant Project Director Anthony Sanchez. The grant has received strong support from national student organizations such as MEXUS, as well as state and local public officials, many of whom attended the reception. The event provided a rare opportunity for cross-community conversations about upcoming projects and possible collaborations.