Fullerton College Ethnic Studies Celebrates 50 Years of Education for Liberation (Rescheduled)
Fullerton College will honor and celebrate a golden anniversary and the legacy of the Ethnic Studies Department during a campus-wide celebration. The events have been rescheduled from April 26-27 to May 9-10.
Founded in 1972, the Fullerton College Ethnic Studies Department has been a dynamic and powerful force of movement for the campus community. The two-day celebration will include a dinner and scholarship fundraiser on May 9 from 5 – 8 p.m. in Building 200, Room 224, and a community celebration on May 10 from 12 – 8 p.m. on the quad. Reservations for the scholarship fundraiser are available on Eventbrite and the community celebration is free and open to the public.
“We are honored to be part of the legacy of those who created the department for us and are committed to what is at the core of Ethnic Studies, which is providing students with a place to critically reflect on issues of systemic racism, power, solidarity, empowerment for historically marginalized and looted communities, and to reimagine and envision a world that is more free, more just, and one that we can truly be proud of,” said Professor and Ethnic Studies Department Chair Dr. Ziza Delgado.
The kick-off celebration on May 9 will honor three founding faculty members of the Ethnic Studies Department during a dinner and scholarship fundraiser that will help establish scholarship endowments in each of their names through the Friends of Fullerton College Foundation. The founding faculty are: Professor Emerita Adela Lopez, Professor Emeritus Gerald Padilla, and Professor Emeritus Ernest Bridges.
“Those scholarships will be used to celebrate, recognize, and honor students at Fullerton College who represent the legacy of Ethnic Studies by having a positive impact in their communities, including at Fullerton College,” said Ethnic Studies adjunct lecturer and 50th Celebration organizer Dr. Rosie Kar.
The following day on May 10, a community celebration, which is free and open to the public, will feature workshops and activities for all ages, a vendor marketplace from 12 – 6 p.m., food, and musical performances, a DJ and dancing from 6 – 8 p.m., and several guest speakers throughout the day.
“Ethnic Studies is about understanding our history and reclaiming the moment that we’re in to build a future that we want to see for our children and the next seven generations that follow,” Delgado said.
The community celebration invites the community and families to learn about Ethnic Studies in a fun and interactive celebration. Various workshops will be presented throughout the day on May 10 on the quad. The workshops planned are:
Mujeres de Maiz: The Power of Posters
1 – 3 p.m.
This hands-on workshop shares the ancient technique of silk-screening. Posters have been used for centuries to share messages and make statements. Participants will plan and create an image via stencil to make personal or political posters during the workshop to take home.
Dr. Melanie Bratcher: African Dance Workshop & Intercultural Adornments Creation for the Whole Family
3 – 5 p.m.
From 3 – 4 p.m., participants can get creative and design an outfit inspired by African art and textiles and then at 4 – 5 p.m., participants will learn choreography from a professional African dance instructor.
Mujeres de Maiz: La Botanica del Barrio: Ancestral Knowledge & Self Care for Today
4 – 5 p.m.
A skill-share on self-care. Guest speaker will introduce participants to natural and holistic healing methods, plants and traditions, and will bring forth the experiential knowledge that the participants have, including family and home recipes, remedies, etc. Participants will make their own tea blend.
Professor Steven Moreno-Terrill: Oral History Workshop
2 – 3 p.m.
Participants will learn about oral history methodology from an expert and public historian. Professor Moreno-Terrill will share some examples and insight about the process of conducting oral histories for the FC Ethnic Studies’ 50th anniversary.
All workshops and activities will be held on the Fullerton College quad and free parking will be available; please email ethnicstudies@fullcoll.edu for details. To learn more, visit the Ethnic Studies 50th Celebration webpage.
