Penn State Berks Latino Forum

Friday, October 16, 2020 at 9:30 AM until 11:00 AMEastern Daylight Time UTC -04:00

Penn State Berks has been hosting our Latino Forum since 2013. This will be our first year offering the Forum virtually as a webinar. The Latino Forum is the celebration of the Hispanic/Latino culture and identity as well as a commitment to the Hispanic/Latino community. The Latino Forum seeks to provide a safe space where faculty, staff, and especially students of Hispanic/Latino heritage can reflect upon the challenges facing juniors and seniors in high school today. It is also meant to be an inspiration in the pursuit of education and happiness.

This year's Key Note speaker is Javier Avila. In his one-man show this celebrated author sheds light on the American Latino experience with his unique brand of poetry and satire. The high-octane, poignant, and hilarious one-man show The Trouble with My Name consolidates Ávila’s talents as a poet and professor. It is a tour-de-force that will make audiences laugh, cry, and embrace the autobiographical journey of a man who moves between cultures. It provides a fascinating perspective of American Latinos who struggle to dispel misconceptions about their identity and place in the world. The Trouble with My Name examines the issues of language, race, and belonging in an eye-opening performance where Ávila engages the audience as he tells the story of his life and reads poetry that illustrates what it means to be an American of the future. Ávila’s show breaks barriers and embraces the diversity of a nation whose history is rich and colorful. The message transcends boundaries of race, ethnicity, and geography.

All Hispanic/Latino high school students, their families, teachers, and mentors are invited and encouraged to join us for this virtual event.

Registration is no longer available because the registration deadline has passed.