HSW Executive Director John Suau hosted the discussion, with panelists Anne Garcia, Jose Gutierrez, and Alberto Roblest. Evelyn Figueroa, foreground, represented the Smithsonian Latino Center
HSW Executive Director John Suau, right, hosted the discussion with panelists Anne Garcia, Jose Gutierrez, and Alberto Roblest. Evelyn Figueroa, foreground, spoke about the Smithsonian Latino Center.

On September 27, the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. (HSW) hosted a discussion to foster dialogue and identify various initiatives in the local D.C. community that collect and preserve Latino culture.

Moderated by HSW Executive Director John Suau, the “Preserving Latino Heritage in the Nation’s Capital,” panel participants included Anne Garcia, clinical social worker/therapist and Chair of the Commission on Latino Community Development; Jose Gutierrez, founder of the LGBT Latino History Project, which as Gutierrez noted “celebrates its Quinceañera in 2015”; and Alberto Roblest, HolaCultura.com founder and editor, who highlighted recent projects such as the D.C. Latino Murals Map.

Evelyn Figueroa provided the audience with background on the development of the Smithsonian Latino Center, where she serves as project director; the Center’s Latino D.C. History Project; and the organization’s current exhibit initiatives.

In addition to the projects highlighted by the panelists, the event drew representatives from the Office of Latino Affairs (OLA) as well as several additional practitioners of community heritage preservation, including professors at local colleges and universities who with their students conduct oral history programs with local Latino communities.

Following the discussion, Maria Sprehn-Malagón of Montgomery College presented to the Kiplinger Research Library a copy of her new book, “Latinos in the Washington Metro Area” (Arcadia, 2014), written with Jorge Hernandez-Fujigaki, and Linda Robinson.

Suau noted that this event, timed to coincide with National Hispanic Heritage Month, would be part of a series of discussions and events regarding Latino heritage in which the Historical Society plans to participate.

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Ana Patricia Rodriguez of the University of Maryland spoke about the local community-based research she and her students have conducted.

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Maria Sprehn-Malagón of Montgomery College presented a copy of her new book, “Latinos in the Washington Metro Area,” now available through the Kiplinger Research Library’s online catalog.

 

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