Charlotte Teachers Institute’s ‘Exploding Canons’ series to explore Latinos in the New South

October 7, 2015
Categories: General News Tags: Arts and Culture, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Community Engagement

The Southeastern United States is now the nation’s fastest-growing Latino region, with many historians calling this cultural shift the South’s biggest post-Civil Rights story. To better understand this powerful transformation, Charlotte Teachers Institute (CTI), in conjunction with the Levine Museum of the New South, will explore the impacts of Latinos on the New South through its Exploding Canons interdisciplinary speakers program. This event is scheduled for 5:15 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Levine Museum.

“This new Exploding Canons event supports the Levine Museum’s goal of bringing together diverse groups to promote deeper understanding and community building,” said CTI Director Scott Gartlan. He added that Exploding Canons talks aim to challenge participants to think differently about a selected topic and consider multiple perspectives.

CTI’s “¡NUEVOlution!” speakers panel, representing Davidson College, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Charlotte and Levine Museum, will frame the story of Latino impact using a variety of liberal arts lenses and lived experiences.

Featured topics and speakers include:

  • “Charlotte: America’s New Immigrant Gateway Model,” Owen Furuseth, associate provost and professor of geography, UNC Charlotte
  • “Cultural Geographies, Gender and Chicana Memory: Amalia Mesa-Bains,” Magdalena Maiz-Peña, professor of Hispanic studies/Latin American studies, Davidson College
  • “De Aquí y de Allá: Creando Identidad en el Nuevo Sur,” Oliver Merino, Latino New South coordinator, Levine Museum of the New South
  • “Latina Finds Inspiration In the Queen City: Race, Language and Cultural Literacy,” Kurma Murrain, English as Second Language Teacher, West Charlotte High School
  • “The Train Has Left the Station: You’d Better Climb on Board,” Gregory Weeks, chair and professor of political science, UNC Charlotte

The Oct. 27 Exploding Canons program is free and open to the public and includes admission to the Levine Museum exhibition “¡NUEVOlution!” Prospective attendees should register online.

Local organizations representing the Latino community will host information booths about their programs and services during the opening reception starting at 5:15 p.m.; speaker presentations follow at 6:30 p.m. Nancy Gutierrez, dean of UNC Charlotte’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, will moderate the panel and discussion. Afterward, the museum galleries will reopen until 9 p.m.