May 4, 2016
American ethnic studies faculty present at conference in Denver, Colorado
Faculty members, Isabel Millán and Norma Valenzuela presented at the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies in Denver, Colorado April 6-9. This year's theme, "Transforming Chicana/o Activism, Discourse and Scholarship into Power," engaged in provocative discussions around our contemporary political climate.
Professors Millán and Valenzuela presented on a panel titled "Activismo, Resistencia y Critica Social in Contemporary Chicana Cultural Productions." They were joined by Karen Roybal from the University of New Mexico.
Valenzuela's paper, "Mujeres Rovoltosas in Made in L.A.: Vidas Transnacionales in Search of Home," analyzed the role of Chicanas in documentary films. She interrogated the manner in which Chicana/Latina filmmakers center their characters economically, politically and culturally in order to redirect their gaze on the process of finding a "home" within a colonized space.
Millán's paper, "Creating Alongside Younger Audiences: Queer Children and the Queer Chicanxs they Inspire," explored race, gender and sexuality within children's cultural productions such as children's picture books, zines and coloring books. Additionally, Millán was elected to serve among the association's leadership as co-chair for the Chicana Caucus along with Yvette Saavedra, assistant professor at California State University, San Bernardino, for the next two years.
The Chicana Caucus is the largest caucus with the association. It will continue to provide undergraduate student scholarships while working diligently to highlight Chicana scholarship and activism.