Hispanic Heritage event to feature food and fun

Staff report

Youngstown

Ivania del Pozo, professor in the department of foreign languages and literatures at Youngstown State University, will give the keynote address at the YSU Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Friday.

The event, which also includes food, informational booths, dance and musical entertainment, begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center. It is free and open to the public.

Del Pozo earned a doctoral degree at the Graduate School and University Center of New York. She wrote her doctoral thesis under the direction of the famous Spanish writer Francisco Ayala. She has published articles about modernism literature in Puerto Rico and Cuban poetry both in Cuba and the United States. She joined the YSU faculty in 1978.

Del Pozo has organized various events and community projects involving Hispanic students and the university.

The event also features Hispanic foods, informational booths hosted by area businesses and organizations, a flag ceremony featuring flags from 22 Hispanic countries, folkloric dance performances, musical entertainment, a student recognition ceremony, art exhibits and more.

The theme of the event is “Listen to our Hispanic Voices” or “Escucha Nuestras Voces Hispanas.” It is coordinated by the Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee through YSU’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity with support from campus organizations and local sponsors.

The event is in conjunction with the national observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is traditionally observed from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

“YSU has a history of hosting events during Hispanic Heritage Month. This is a great event to bring the community together,” said Yulanda McCarty-Harris, YSU director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity. “The Hispanic community’s rapid growth has positioned itself to make significant contributions on many levels, and education will play a part in those contributions.”

Sponsors for the YSU Hispanic Heritage Celebration include Home Savings, the YSU Center for International Studies and Programs, Partners for Workplace Diversity and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity.