Alambrista: Conversations

on the Border's Edge

April 3-7, 2006

 

Sponsored by the University of San Diego

Co-sponsors: Mesa College, San Diego City College & San Diego State University

 

This is a semester-long interdisciplinary, inter-campus teaching project to examine the music, words, and images from the text and film Alambrista and the U.S.-Mexico Border addressing issues of undocumented immigrants in the United States.

The project will culminate with a musical performance/lecture by Dr. Jose Cuellar from San Francisco State University and a keynote presentation by Dr. Davíd Carrasco from Harvard University at USD's Shiley Theater on April 7, 2006, 6:30pm-9pm.

All activities will be free and open to the general public.

Contact for more information:

Alberto Pulido, Ph.D.

Director – Ethnic Studies Program

Associate Professor – Department of Sociology

College of Arts and Sciences, University of San Diego

(619) 260-4022

apulido@sandiego.edu

 

Tentative Schedule of Events

MONDAY: April 3rd         OPENING RECEPTION: Student Artistic Impressions and Cajitas

                                         4PM at Copley Library, University of San Diego

 

TUESDAY: April 4th         “Undocumented Immigrants and Civil Rights” panel discussion

                                         4PM at the Aztec Center, Casa Real, San Diego State University

 

WEDNESDAY: April 5th   Film Screening & Guest Speakers

                                         2PM Film Screening of Alambrista

                                       3:30PM Guest Speakers: Dr. Davíd Carrasco & Dr. Jose Cuellar 

                                         at Mesa College

 

THURSDAY: April 6th        Lecture & Book Signing by Dr. Carrasco & Dr. Cuellar

                                          11AM Saville Theatre at San Diego City College

                                      Guest Speakers: Dr. David Carrasco & Dr. Jose Cueller

      7PM at Scripts Cottage, San Diego State University

  

FRIDAY: April 7th              Culminating Event – Concert/Lecture/Performance

                                         Dr. Carrasco, Dr. Cuellar & Los Tiburones Del Norte

                                          6:30pm – 9PM Shiley Theater at the University of San Diego 

 

Description of Project: "Alambrista: Conversations on the Border's Edge" 

 

This project will run throughout the Spring 2006 semester and begins with classroom instruction. Professors Camacho, Perez, and Pulido from the University of San Diego will simultaneously teach: Alambrista and the U.S.-Mexico Border edited by Nicholas Cull and David Carrasco. In addition, Professor Richard Griswold from San Diego State University and Professors Michael Ornelas and César López from Mesa College have also agreed to adopt and teach this text for their courses in the spring semester.  The project has been publicized amongst the entire USD faculty and invited to teach Alambrista in their spring semester courses and become part of this project. 

Our objective is to create an interdisciplinary and inter-campus teaching program and dialogue between the various students at USD and the other participating campuses around the issues and challenges facing the undocumented immigrants in our country today.  Our plan is to organize a weekly internet dialogue throughout the semester between students from the four campuses to explore and probe this timely issue of immigration.   

This interdisciplinary and inter-campus dialogue will culminate in a week of activities from the 3rd to the 7th of April 2006 with the musical presentation and performance by Professor José Cuellar, a professor of Ethnic Studies and professional musician from the San Francisco State University, and a keynote lecture from Professor Davíd Carrasco, the Neil Rudenstine professor of the study of Latin American at Harvard University.  We have selected Alambrista as a common reading because it is based on the critically acclaimed film by the same title.  A DVD of the movie along with a new soundtrack (CD) is included in the book.  For his keynote, Professor Carrasco will speak to the words and sights of undocumented immigration in relation to the book and film. Professor Cuellar will speak to the sounds of the undocumented with a lecture and musical performance with his musical group Los Tiburones Del Norte.  All of the participating students from the various universities will be required to attend this gathering. All activities will be free and open to the general public.

Ethnic Studies Program Aligned with USD Strategic Priorities

In line with the Vision and Strategic Goals of the University of San Diego:

v    "Almabrista: Conversations on the Border's Edge" will seek to create a more culturally diverse and culturally competent community by addressing the complicated question of the undocumented experiences in the United States.  This project will provide an opportunity for students to experience the transborder and transnational realities of the human experience through film, lecture, and music. It will inspire us to look beyond national and political borders and instead at our common humanity.

v    "Alambrista: Conversations on the Border's Edge" will enhance the interdisciplinary and inter-campus connections between faculty and students from different universities.  This project will enhance learning beyond the classroom as it draws from different disciplinary, theoretical, and even institutional boundaries in our search for a common voice and vision.  It will integrate teaching, scholarship, and experience that will transform our students into globally competent and future ethical leaders of tomorrow.

v    "Alambrista: Conversations on the Border's Edge" will educate our students about social justice, human rights, and Catholic Social Thought as it seeks to highlight and showcase our common inherent human dignity.