CLAS Newsletter

CLAS Virtual Coffee Hour

This Thursday, CLAS presents a collection of Latin American masks, donated by OSU alumnus Mark Gordon and Barton College. Mark will join us to talk about his experiences collecting the masks and research in Latin America.

OSU Quechua instructor, Elvia Andia Grágeda, presented a Quechua mini-lesson, followed by questions about the class and the language. CLAS staff provided info about available courses, mode of instruction, fellowships, and other opportunities.

Coffee Hours are designed to continue offering ways to network and engage with each other on topics and themes related to Latin America. Discussions will take place on Zoom every Thursday from 1:30 - 2:30 PM. Please suggest new themes and/or lead future discussions based on your interests (music, cooking demonstrations, favorite books, review of journal articles, etc.). What would you like to see in future coffee hours? Email Megan Hasting with your ideas!

7/2 Coffee Hour: Taste of Latin America

Columbus Council on World Affairs Signature Webinar Event

As Covid-19 continues to spread across the world, with cases continuing to rise, supply chains around the globe are beginning to take a hit. Most notably the food supply chain is beginning to strain. The meatpacking industry, unable to accommodate proper social distancing protocol, is experiencing a severe hit to their workforce. Farmers and agricultural businesses are taking to the fields after the winter season and need an abundance of able-bodied workers. But who typically fills these roles? Well according to the Department of Agriculture about half the country's field hands, more than a million workers, are undocumented immigrants.

On June 25, 2020, from 12-1 PM, the Columbus Council on World Affairs invites Mexican border correspondent and author, Alfredo Corchado, to take a deeper look at this issue, the impact on our food supply, and what it actually means to be an essential worker.

Call For Volunteers: Global Scholars Diploma Program

The Columbus Council on World Affairs' Global Scholars Diploma Program is seeking volunteers to be Cultural Ambassadors for their Latin American virtual dialogue event in the fall. They are seeking students and faculty members from Latin America to record a 10-15 minute video of themselves speaking about their country's culture. CLAS is also offering a stipend to any volunteers who wish to participate. Video recordings are due by July 15, 2020.

Please send your video recordings or any questions to Hannah Meyer at [email protected].

Origins New Piece: The 1975 Mexico City World Conference On Women

Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective, is an online history journal co-produced by OSU's History Department and the Department of History at Miami University of Ohio. Every month, they publish a diverse slate of feature articles and blog posts that help readers understand the historical context of contemporary issues. They have just announced the publication of a short piece: an essay on the 1975 United Nations World Conference on Women in Mexico City, its outcome and legacy.

CLASP Educator Needs Assessment

The Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP) member institutions provide curriculum materials and professional development opportunities for educators. The CLASP Outreach Committee has put together an educator needs assessment meant to inform the K-12 and community college resources and professional development opportunities they will develop in the coming years. The objective of this survey is to assess what educators need and want in order to effectively teach Latin America in the classroom and how CLASP can support this effort. The deadline to complete the survey is July 1, 2020.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Molly Aufdermauer at [email protected].

OAS Fall Internship Application Now Open!

Be part of the OAS team from where you are! The Organization of American States (OAS) is the main political forum of the Region that promotes and supports Democracy, Human Rights, Multi-dimensional Security and Integral Development in the Americas. The OAS seeks to prevent conflicts and to bring political stability, social inclusion and prosperity to the region through dialogue and collective actions. It is now accepting applications for Fall 2020 internships. The deadline to submit your application is July 12, 2020.