Latin American Studies

at the College of Wooster

Kendall-Rives Research Grant

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Interested in conducting research in Latin America? The Kendall-Rives research grant makes available approximately $2,000 each year to one or more Wooster sophomores or juniors to support a research project on some aspect of United States-Latin American Relations. Funds are to be used during the current academic year, including the summer months. Research projects must be conducted in a Latin American country in preparation for, or as part of, a senior Independent Study project in any major.

Successful projects in the past have included an archaeological excavation in Honduras; research in Reynosa, Mexico, to gather information to create a testimonio;  studying the Honduran educational system while working with a literacy NGO in Copan; participant observation in hair salons in the Dominican Republic; and interviews with street musicians in Cuzco, Peru.

The deadline for this grant is Monday, November 7. If you are interested in learning more about the Kendall-Rives Latin American Research Grant, please contact Professor Pamela Frese, Chair of the Kendall-Rives Committee (Office: Kauke 14; ext. 2256)

Sustainable Futures & Immigration Lecture

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What is the connection between your food choices, immigration, and social justice?  Come learn how our resource usage affects other parts of the world. Susanna McKibben, Coordinator of the BorderLinks Sustainable Futures Program, will speak at Westminster Church House, just south of campus at 353 E. Pine St, on Monday, August 29th at 7:00 p.m. Susanna is brought to campus by Westminster Presbyterian Church. Light refreshments will be served following the talk.

Learn more about BorderLinks here.

Performance Artist Guillermo Gómez-Peña

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GUILLERMO GOMEZ-PENA PERFORMS AT WOOSETR ON APRIL 15

Post-Mexican writer and performance artist Guillermo Gómez-Peña will bring his unique combination of embodied poetry, performance-activism, and theatricalizations of postcolonial theory to The College of Wooster when he presents “Strange Democracy: The Border Wars” on Friday, April 15, in Freedlander Theatre (329 E. University St.).

The performance, which begins at 8:15 p.m., reflects on the post-9/11 era, the current “border wars,” and the formidable challenges facing President Obama. Described as “Chicano cyber-punk” and “ethno-techno art,” Gómez-Peña’s inimitable solo performances have been hailed by critics. Tickets are $9 for general admission and $6 for senior citizens. College of Wooster students, faculty, and staff will be admitted free of charge. For more information contact Alyssa Lee Wilmot at awilmot@wooster.edu

To reserve tickets please call the box office at X2241.

Children Are Reading, Earning, Succeeding (C.A.R.E.S.)

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CARESCollege of Wooster sophomore Catherine Gillette, working with the support of the Center for Entrepreneurship, has founded a literacy and education support program in Copan, Honduras: Children Are Reading, Earning, Succeeding (C.A.R.E.S.)

C.A.R.E.S. seeks to help children in rural Honduras by improving the basic educational opportunities available to them. They do this by providing books and offering a support program that encourages children to read and further explore the joys of learning.

The mission of C.A.R.E.S. is to provide rural Honduran schools with the funds they need to buy books. They are starting in Chonco, a rural community near Copan. The books are bought in Honduras and selected by the teachers. Additionally, C.A.R.E.S. pays students a small amount for every book they read. This is important because children are often pulled out of school at a young age; their parents need them to work in the fields and contribute to their family’s finances instead of getting an education. Since C.A.R.E.S. is paying the children for each book they read, their parents will be encouraged to keep them in school longer and, in turn, to encourage them in their studies. A better education results in better opportunities. C.A.R.E.S. also provides the teacher with a small stipend in gratitude for her participation and hard work.

Future goals for C.A.R.E.S. include supplementing the school lunch program, expanding to other Honduran communities, and adding a scholarship component so that students can continue with their studies beyond what their communities offer.

How can you help?

Support us financially!  Become a fan on Facebook!

By making a donation, you help C.A.R.E.S. brighten the futures of countless children and youth.  Right now, the Presbyterian Church USA is supporting this effort so that all donations can be tax-deductible while C.A.R.E.S. works to attain independent non-profit status.

Checks should be made out to Presbyterian Church (USA). On the memo line, please write:

“C.A.R.E.S. — H 000041 Heifer/Honduras.” Then send your check to:

C.A.R.E.S.

c/o Catherine Gillette

2606 Salem Drive

Wilmington, DE 19808

Contributions are tax-deductible in the USA.

La Cantate Alegre: A Celebration of Hispanic Song

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On Saturday, January 22 at 7:30 pm, Professor Carrie Culver (soprano), working in collaboration with Margaret Reitz (piano) and Denise Rotavera Krain (flute), will present La cantate alegre: a celebration of Hispanic song.  Among the featured songs are works by Brazilian composers Heitor Villa-Lobos and Osvaldo Lacerda.

Saturday, January 22

7:30 pm

Gault Recital Hall

How to Apply for Lilly Summer Fellowships

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This Tuesday, November 30 at 7:00 in Severance 009, representatives from the Lilly Program will be holding an information session on “How to Apply” for (funded) Summer Vocational Exploration Fellowships.
At this session, you’ll receive a handbook, hear helpful suggestions on how to apply, hear expectations from representatives of the selection committees, and get a chance to talk one-on-one with those representatives.

All first year, sophomore and junior students in good academic standing are eligible to apply. There are many good reasons why students should consider applying:

  • Most of the Fellowships are not pre-determined. The students have the opportunity to take the initiative to craft and have the responsibility to implement their own experience
  • Within the variety of fellowships Lilly offers, students get to explore vocational interests that are both fulfilling & meaningful to themselves, and meet a community need.
  • Students have the opportunity to test the waters for potential career paths through experiences they are heavily invested in.