Past Events

In the aftermath of the 2024 election, we find ourselves at a crucial turning point. With promises to deport millions of Latinos, we face consequences that will impact not just our communities, but the entire fabric of the U.S. and beyond. This impending social and economic storm will generate forceful opposition, though its shape is not yet determined. In this context, this panel discussion will emphasize these major questions: How extensive could deportations be, and what are the potential economic impacts?
How can vulnerable communities protect themselves, and how can allies best support them?
What are the global effects of these issues, beyond Latin America and the Caribbean?
What can individuals do to help, and how can we effectively fact-check this information? Join us for a challenging but necessary conversation in a safe, collaborative space that will include academics, community, and activist leaders. Sheila Vélez Martínez, Jack and Lovell Olender Professor of Asylum Refugee and Immigration Law/Pitt
Rosamaria Cristello, Executive Director & Founder Latino Community Center
Nathan Harper, Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Manager, City of Pittsburgh
Michael Goodhart, Professor, Political Science, University of Pittsburgh To register: https://www.ucis.pitt.edu/clas/content/clas-event-registration. This will be a hybrid event. The ZOOM link will be provided at a later date to online registered participants. For in-person participants, refreshments will be provided. Sponsors: The Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS), the Center for Ethnic Studies Research (CERS), the Global Studies Center (GSC) at the University of Pittsburgh.

An opportunity to network and learn more about Latinx Studies initiatives at Pitt.

El Día de las Velitas (Day of the Little Candles) is a beloved Colombian tradition celebrated on the night of December 7th. While it originally honors the Catholic feast of the Immaculate Conception, today it’s a joyful community celebration enjoyed by people of all backgrounds. Families and neighborhoods light thousands of candles and lanterns, filling the streets with beautiful light displays. It marks the start of the Holiday season, bringing people together to celebrate with music, food, and festive cheer. El Día de las Velitas is a symbol of hope, unity, and warmth, a tradition that lights up both the streets and hearts of Colombians across the country. Join us, learn about this celebration, and help us decorate our Holiday trellis that will be on displayed at the Global Hub. Follow easy instructions to create ornaments inspired by different countries from Colombia ,Mexico, Denmark, Japan or write Happy Holidays in any language. There will be a catalog of flags from around the world to paint a flag of your choice. Help us decorate and create a new tradition at the Global Hub.

Register to attend in person: https://www.ucis.pitt.edu/clas/content/clas-event-registration This event will be in Portuguese. Free and open to the public

Attention: Undergraduate students! Are you looking to gain experience that will help prepare you for a globally-connected job market? Stop by Drop-In Hours to learn more about getting the Global Distinction added to your academic transcript, receiving special recognition at graduation, and standing out to prospective employers

Director: Nina Tedesco; Script and research: Paulo Cruz Terra, Nina Tedesco; followed by discussion with Paulo Terra (Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil); Sara York (Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro) and David Tenorio (University of Pittsburgh) What are the meanings of vagrancy throughout Brazilian history, at least since Abolition of slavery? Who was considered a vagrant? What are the possibilities of resistance to attempts at criminalization? Trying to answer these questions through the intersectionality of class, gender, race and sexualities, the film dialogues with four women activists: Neusa Maria Pereira, journalist and one of the founders of the Movimento Negro Unificado; Shirley Krenak, Indigenous activist of the Krenak people; Jovanna Baby, founder of the organized movement of transvestites and transgender people in Brazil; and Nataraj Trinta, historian and organizer of the Slut Walk in Rio de Janeiro.  Register here: https://www.ucis.pitt.edu/clas/content/clas-event-registration Free and open to the public