Washington History magazine featured this work in a discussion about contributions by Salvadoran artists in DC. Lamento Indigena [Indigenous Lament], oil painting, © Karlisima Rodas-Israel. Courtesy Ana Patricia Rodríguez

Throughout the month of March, the DC History Center will be spotlighting several of the organizations that are actively working to preserve and share local Latina/o/x cultural heritage. We hope you’ll join us in conversation for one or all of the engagements listed below!

On Facebook Live, we’re offering a live interview with Manuel Mendez, Chair of the DC AfroLatino Caucus. He’ll be speaking with University of the District of Columbia student—and DC History Center collaborator—Mariana Barros-Titus. Through Instagram Takeovers, we invite you to learn more about Hola Cultura’s programs and initiatives, as well as the Smithsonian’s plans for celebrating local DC Latino heritage.

And on March 18, join us on Zoom for our next Context for Today program, “Forever Wachintonian Salvadorean”: Community, Culture, and Representation.  Professor Ana Patricia Rodríguez and oral historian José Centeno-Meléndez will discuss how DC’s Salvadoran immigrant community maintains its cultural identity in DC. They will be joined by Abel Nuñez, executive director of CARECEN, for a conversation about issues of Salvadoran political representation and the impact of local and federal politics on the community. (See below for details on each program).

Bringing it all together, the DC History Center recently announced a new initiative to compile a resource guide, amplifying access to local archival resources on the Latino communities of DC and surrounding metro area. The main aim of this research tool is to provide access to this information, encourage scholarship, and build relationships between repositories and local communities. We’re very happy to have a great partner in this work: University of the District of Columbia Associate Professor Amanda Huron and undergraduate political science major Mariana Barros-Titus. You can read more about the guide here – and we hope you’ll join Mariana on Facebook Live on March 23!

Upcoming Spotlight: Latino DC Programs

Instagram Takeover with Hola Cultura
Tuesday, March 16

Context for Today:  “Forever Wachintonian Salvadorean”: Community, Culture, and Representation [video]
With Ana Patricia Rodríguez, José Centeno-Meléndez, and Abel Nuñez
Thursday, March 18 @ 7:30 pm

Facebook Live with DC AfroLatino Caucus [video]
With Co-founder and Chair, Manuel Mendez
Tuesday, March 23 @ 7 pm

Instagram Takeover with Smithsonian Latino Center 
Tuesday, March 30

 

Featured Organizations

CARECEN

Since 1981, CARECEN has helped immigrants transition to an integrated life in their new home and equipped them to play an essential role in the advancement of the community. CARECEN’s mission is to foster the comprehensive development of the Latino population by providing direct services while promoting grassroots empowerment, civic engagement, and human rights advocacy. The organization provides advocacy and services relating to housing, citizenship, and immigration.

Facebook: CARECEN.DC
Instagram: @carecendc
Twitter: @CarecenDC
Learn more: https://carecendc.org/

 

DC AfroLatino Caucus

The DC AfroLatino Caucus is a collaborative whose mission is to bring visibility and improve the quality of life to Afro Latinos in Washington, DC— issues of concern identified by a 2016 initiative from the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs. An early focus of the Caucus was to document the contributions of Afro-Latinos through panel discussion and oral history.

Twitter: @DCAfroLatino
Facebook: AfroLatino202

 

Hola Cultura

Hola Cultura constructs innovative pathways to success for the Latino community while fostering society’s demand for the arts and Hispanic cultural initiatives. The organization’s vision is to defeat stereotypes with education and civic engagement. Hola Cultura builds human understanding through art, culture, and journalistic storytelling.

Facebook: @HolaCulturaDC
Twitter: @DCcultura
Instagram: holaculturadc
Learn more: https://www.holacultura.com/

 

Smithsonian Latino Center

The Smithsonian Latino Center teaches the untold stories of Latinas/os in the U.S. and increases awareness of and access to Latino collections and resources at the Smithsonian. They offer public, family and educational programs, as well as online resources and bilingual teaching materials. The Latino Center will feature some collective stories from its Latino DC History Project in the Molina Family Latino Gallery (opening in 2022 at the National Museum of American History). The Latino Gallery’s inaugural exhibition, “¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States,” tells U.S. history from the perspectives of the diverse Latinas/os who lived it.

Twitter: @SLC_Latino
Facebook: SLCLatino
Instagram: @slc_latino
Learn more: https://latino.si.edu/latino-center

 

 

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