Framingham State receives 'Latino Americans: 500 Years of History' grant

Framingham State University has been selected to receive a competitive Latino Americans: 500 Years of History grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association.

As one of 203 grant recipients selected from across the country, Framingham State will receive a cash grant of $3,000 to hold public programming — such as public film screenings, discussion groups, oral history initiatives, local history exhibitions, multi-media projects or performances — about Latino history and culture.

The University will also receive the six-part, NEH-supported documentary film “Latino Americans,” created for PBS in 2013 by the WETA public television station. The award-winning series chronicles the history of Latinos in the United States from the 16th century to present day.

“Latino Americans are the country’s largest minority group, with more than 50 million people, and still many people are unaware of their rich and varied history and culture,” said F. Javier Cevallos, President of Framingham State University. “I’m thrilled that FSU has this opportunity to explore this topic in our community.”

Events already planned include:

• Screening of Episode I, Center for Inclusive Excellence, Sept. 10, 4:30 p.m.Framingham State President Cevallos will lead a discussion following the screening of Episode I of the series, “Foreigners in their Own Land (1565-1880).
• Screening of Episode IV, McCarthy Center Forum, Sept. 17, 4:30 to 6 p.m Professor Patricia Sanchez-Connally will present Episode IV of the series, “The New Latinos.” She selected this episode because it discusses migrations that have significantly impacted the sociopolitical landscape of the United States.
• Wise Latinas Reading, Framingham Public Library, Sept. 23, 7 to 9 p.m. Join Jennifer De Leon, editor of the groundbreaking creative nonfiction anthology, Wise Latinas: Writers on Higher Education, as she shares her narrative and provides crucial insight into the complex intersection of race, class, and identity in higher education, dispelling myths and showcasing the diversity of one community’s experiences.
• Visit to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, Oct 2, 10 a.m. To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, FSU will arrange a trip for students to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the US Senate. Senator Kennedy cosponsored and managed the bill that became the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act. Limited seating.
• Screening of Episode III, Center for Inclusive Excellence, Oct. 8, 7 p.m. Framingham State History Professor Jon Huibregtse will lead a discussion following the screening of Episode III, “War and Peace (1942-1954).
• Latino Americans 500 Years of History Grant Reception, Oct. 9, 5-7 p.m. The Library was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities grant. The reception is in celebration of the grant. On display will be Mario Quiroz’s photographic exhibition on Latin American immigration to the U.S. Accompanying the exhibit, will be a Latino acoustic performance by singer and musician Maura Mendoza. Sodexo will provide light refreshments.
• Presentation of Episode IV, MassBay Community College, April 11, 7 to 9 p.m. Professor Marco Mena will present Episode VI of the Latino Americans series, “Peril and Promise.” He will discuss the waves of refugees from Cuba, as well as the arrival of thousands of Central Americans into the United States. Topics such as illegal immigration and anti-bilingualism will also be explored.

For a schedule of events, visit www.framingham.edu.

The Latino Americans: 500 Years of History grantees represent 42 states and the District of Columbia, and include 78 public libraries, 68 college/university libraries and organizations, 19 community college libraries, 10 state humanities councils, 12 museums and a range of other nonprofit organizations. View a full list of the recipients.

Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation.

The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with approximately 58,000 members in academic, public, school, government and special libraries. The mission of the American Library Association is to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.