University Center for International Studies Center for Latin American Studies
University Center for International Studies Center for Latin American Studies

CLAS Events Series

CLAS is excited to host a variety of event series, ranging from Seminars and Panel Discussions to Information Sessions and Activities. Our goal is to enrich students, community and our Center with a diverse perspective in Latin America, the Caribbean and its diasporas. For that, we welcome multiple scholars as well as faculty from Pitt and provide them platforms to transmit their knowledges to others. We are also happy provide academic and cultural resources in events formats for a more interactive approach to students and all folks. You can find an introduction on our current events series below.

Any upcoming CLAS events (such as Club Activities, Lectures, etc.) can be found under
CLAS Events Calendar.

 

CLAS Speaker Series

The CLAS Speaker Series brings together leading scholars, policymakers, and cultural figures to explore critical issues shaping Latin America, the Caribbean, and their diasporic communities. Aligned with the Center for Latin American Studies' mission, this series fosters global understanding by supporting cutting-edge research, enriching student learning, and promoting meaningful dialogue. By engaging faculty, students, and the broader community, the series creates a dynamic space for interdisciplinary exchange, advancing knowledge and collaboration at regional, national, and international levels.

 

CLAS@Pitt Border to Border Series

(click on on title above to see upcoming and past events).

Borders are more than lines on a map—they define, divide, and shape our lives in profound ways. While much of the conversation around borders focuses on national boundaries and migration, this series goes further. Borders: Beyond the Lines explores how visible and invisible borders influence our identities, relationships, and societies—whether between countries, neighborhoods, or even within ourselves.

This series will examine the global landscape of borders through a wide lens. We’ll compare migration routes from different regions and uncover the complex realities behind why people move. We'll challenge common misconceptions about migration and spotlight the human experiences behind the headlines.

But our exploration doesn’t stop at geopolitics. We’ll also consider the everyday borders that define access, inclusion, and power—such as those that separate communities, segregate neighborhoods, or enforce mental and emotional boundaries.

 

From forced migration to societal divides, from policy to personal impact, this series invites deep reflection and honest dialogue. How do borders shape not just where we can go, but who we can become?

Series Objectives

  • Explore how borders—physical, social, psychological, and ideological—shape individual and collective experiences

  • Investigate the impact of borders within neighborhoods, cities, and communities, including issues of segregation, access, and identity

  • Examine global migration patterns and the forces—political, economic, environmental—that drive human movement

  • Challenge common misconceptions about migration and who is affected by border policies

  • Reflect on how mental and emotional boundaries influence perception, belonging, and human connection

  • Promote inclusive dialogue on how borders—visible and invisible—reinforce power structures and shape opportunity

  • Encourage rethinking of borders not just as barriers, but as evolving spaces of negotiation, conflict, and possibility

To see upcoming and past events, visit: https://www.ucis.pitt.edu/clas/border-border-series

 

CLAS Cinema Film Series

Each year, the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) hosts a film series to promote the teaching and learning on Latin America, the Caribbean, and their diverse diasporic communities. The film screenings are free and open to the public!

 

Charlemos!

Hosted by the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Pittsburgh and the Political Institutions and Processes Section of the Latin American Studies Association. This is a virtual series to create a space for political scientists and other academics to discuss the critical social and political challenges facing Latin America today--including democratic backsliding, economic inequality, racial injustice, gender inequities, and a host of other issues. Please see this letter for more information on the series and about how to get involved. For questions, please email charlemos@pitt.edu

Click here to see our YouTube Playlist of past talks!

 

Cultura Negra no Atlantico

Cultura Negra no Atlantico (CULTNA) is an initiative that brings together the Laboratório de História Oral e Imagem (LABHOI) at the Universidade Federal Fluminense and Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora and the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Once a month, we will discuss recent work with scholars and students interested in the topic. Discussions will be held in Portuguese.

Cultura Negra no Atlantico (CULTNA) é uma iniciativa que congrega o Laboratório de História Oral e Imagem (LABHOI) da Universidade Federal Fluminense e da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, e o Center for Latin American Studies da University of Pittsburgh. Uma vez por mês, trabalhos recentes serão debatidos com especialistas e estudantes interessados no tema. As discussões serão realizadas em português.