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Fourth annual Semana de la Raza honors Latino culture

Photos and story by Meryl Lipman

С��è��ý is hosting its fourth annual Semana de la Raza (“Week of the People”) festival, which will honor Latino people, history and culture with the theme, “The Heart of the People.”

The event will take place from Monday, April 26 through Friday, April 30 at the Rock Creek Campus (17705 N.W. Springville Road). Semana de la Raza’s culminating event will be the Cesar Chavez Evening of Excellence Celebration at 6 p.m., Friday, April 30, in Room 114, Building 3. It will recognize people’s service to the community through leadership and education. Following the awards, there will be a performance held by Latino theater group Teatro Milagro, featuring its play, “American Sueno,” followed by a discussion, food and dancing. Semana de la Raza is free and open to the public.

“Each (Latin American) country is unique,” said Brenda Maldonado, Semana organizer and Rock Creek Multicultural Center Coordinator. “But certain things unify us as Latinos. That includes a sense of joy and commitment to family. Even when living in extreme poverty, Latinos still have singing, food and family. It’s what carries us.”

The big attraction to this year’s Semana de la Raza is the El Poder de la Mujer Conference – a popular event for Latina women and girls on Tuesday, April 27 – the first time it’s being held at a community college campus. The conference, which will feature Susan Castillo, Oregon State Superintendent of Public Education, as the keynote speaker as well as other local Latina leaders, had been held in downtown Portland hotels, but because of changing demographics (Washington County’s population is 15 percent Latino) and the conference’s educational mission, the conference moved to С��è��ý. Cost is $10 for students, $20 for educators and $50 for the general public. To sign up for this conference, e-mail Brenda.maldonado@pcc.edu.

Semana de la Raza highlights include:

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, April 26, Event Center – An opening luncheon featuring artist Yolanda-Valdes Remerienta. Winners of the 2010 essay and photo contests will be announced as well.
• Chicanito Day on Wednesday, April 28 features on-campus visits and educational workshops for high school students.
• Latin Countries Student Showcase – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 28, Building 3 Mall. It will represent many Latin American cultures via table displays.

Other events include a sports day and documentary film screening on Thursday, April 29, a day of service on Tuesday, April 27, workshops on the 2010 Census and DREAM Act on Wednesday, April 28, and a migrant clothing drive all month.

If you are interested in attending any of these events, e-mail thrive@pcc.edu

To check out the entire schedule, visit www.pcc.edu/semana