The annual eStrella Latin American and Latino/a/x Issues Conference (LIC) will be hosted at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) by the School of Cultural and Critical Studies. This multilingual conference supports both student research and the visibility of Latino/a/x culture.
The conference, located in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union, is a showcase of students’original scholarship and creative works. Registration for the event will close on March 13, and the event will take place on March 18 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rene Ayala, a Ph.D candidate in the American Culture Studies Program and a member of the executive committee for LIC, finds this conference to be an opportunity for students to partake in academic exchange and present to diverse audiences.
“As the LIC is an interdisciplinary conference, students would also get the chance to practice explaining their research or creative work to those outside of their major or primary area of study,” Ayala said.
The event includes student research panels who have conducted original research or produced creative works in areas such as photography, ceramics, media installations and more. Original works can take the form of poster presentations or research papers. Those who arranged to present their work submitted a 200-word abstract to be considered for the conference. Beyond the research panels, invited speakers address topics that shape Latino/a/x and Latin American communities both within and outside BGSU.
For some, conferences like LIC could be the stepping stone to begin the process of sharing their work to growing crowds.
“If students would like to eventually present their research or creative work at larger conferences or public venues, then the LIC can be a good way to get a sense of what it would be like to attend and present at a conference,” Ayala said.
As students’ work and research are highlighted, LIC will be hosting award-winning speaker, photojournalist, and storyteller Saul Flores. It was in 2010 when Flores’ career as a speaker and philanthropist first began.
“He decided to walk 5,328 miles from Ecuador to the United States to create a ‘photo documentary’ that showcased the experiences and challenges faced by migrants who took this journey,” Ayala said.
Since that project, Flores has had his work featured on platforms like TEDX, MSNBC and National Public Radio (NPR). As a speaker at multiple colleges and universities, he has been known to inspire audiences to realize the capacity of their potential in times of extreme adversity.
LIC is an event open to promote the accomplishments of the Latino/a/x communities whilst increasing the viability of politics, culture and interventions in BGSU and the region.
For more information about the conference: https://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/cultural-and-critical-studies/news-events/latino-issues-conference.html
