Chicano Scholars and Organizers Convene at Evergreen November 8 and 9

Two-time national slam poetry champion Matt Sedillo, and members of Familias Unidas por la Justicia, a union of 300 indigenous migrant farmworker families that recently drew national attention for strikes in Whatcom County, will be presenting on November 8. November 9 will feature a performance by “Hij@s de Su Madre,” an intergenerational performance group. They will give a multi-layered storytelling performance about Chicano identity, migration, and how it shapes their lives.

“This is the first time this conference has been held at Evergreen,” said Anthony Zaragoza, lead organizer and faculty member. “Our goal is to create an opportunity to talk about history and current issues to see a vision for the future of Chicano communities.”

The conference will also feature site visits to places associated with Evergreen volunteers, such as the CIELO community center in Olympia, Gateways for Incarcerated Youth’s Green Hill School project in Chehalis, and Evergreen Elementary School in Shelton, which features bilingual instruction.

Attendees are encouraged to register online by November 6 at http://chicanaychicanoscholars.wordpress.com/. The full schedule of panels and events can also be found at this site. This event is open to the public for $10, and free to Evergreen staff, faculty, and students. Contact Anthony Zaragoza at zaragozt@evergreen.edu.