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Latin American and Latino Studies Holds First Annual “Encuentro”

October 28, 2022
Encuentro 2022
Encuentro 2022

The 2022 Latin American and Latino Studies Minor hosted Encuentro: Culture & Diaspora on October 27th with keynotes speakers Isa Noyola and Marcia Ochoa, as well as roundtable guests Giancarlo Castro, Marian Gutierrez-Curiel, and Bonnie Reagan.

Isa Noyola and Marcia Ochoa’s presentation drew on their 15 years of collaboration, which has resulted in the creation of a social movement to respond to the disposability and disenfranchisement of translatinas, transgender women of Latin American descent living in the global North. As a key organizer of the movement to End Trans Detention, Isa brought the lessons she’s learned sitting across the table from ICE representatives to get people out of their custody, and shared her vision for trans immigrant justice to abolish oppressive systems that criminalize all of our communities, especially trans and queer immigrant communities of color. Marcia shared the guiding principles for the vision of El/La, and how those principles materialize in our day-to-day actions. 

A panel focused on the El Sistema music education program founded in 1975 by Venezuelan economist and musician, José Antonio Abreu. Internationally recognized for its transformative influence in young lives, the program’s communal ethos has been emulated worldwide as a model for training orchestral musicians, developing confident and empathetic citizens, and promoting social justice. The speakers considered the legacy of Abreu’s visionary work, the role of Venezuelan musicians in expanding El Sistema’s global reach, critical perspectives on the history of the program, and the strategies adopted by El Sistema-inspired US-based organizations to serve local communities in the United States, including Portland’s Bravo Youth Orchestras.

The first event of Encuentro’s program was a Round Table discussion on Culture & Diaspora in Latin American & Latino Studies. It was led by LC faculty of various departments: Vanesa Arozamena, Kim Cameron-Domínguez, Matt Johnston, Magalí Rabasa and Elliott Young.

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Charlotte Jaguzuy (Asian Studies major, Japanese minor '25) & Nico Quade (English Major '27)

Our students won the first place and the third place in the annual Japanese speech contest!

On Saturday, April 19, the 29th Annual Toyama Cup speech contest was held.

The event is sponsored and hosted by Japan’s Toyama prefecture, Oregon’s sister state, and the Japan-America Society of Oregon (JASO). The event consists of a lower and higher level, with the champion of the higher level winning a trip and week-long stay in Toyama, Japan. All winners and runners-up received a variety of gifts from Toyama.

This year, students from Lewis & Clark, Oregon State University, Pacific University, Portland Community College, University of Oregon, and Mt.Hood Community College had a heated competition, where everyone demonstrated impressively high Japanese skills.

After extremely close-fought competitions, Charlotte Jaguzuy (Asian Studies major, Japanese minor ’25) came in first in the upper division, and Nico Quade (English Major ’27) came in third place in the lower division.

Charlotte will go visit the Toyama prefecture this summer as a cultural envoy!

Everyone in the Japanese section is so proud of them!

Satomi Newson with student

Teacher of the Year Winner!

It is with great pleasure to announce and congratulate our 2025 Teacher of the Year: Satomi Newsom, Instructor of Japanese. Satomi has inspired students through her dedication, passion, and excellence in teaching. Her commitment to student success and her dynamic contributions to the academic life of our college have truly set her apart.

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The North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1966 to examine and critique U.S. imperialism and political, economic, and military intervention in the Western hemisphere. In an evolving political and media landscape, we continue to work toward a world in which the nations and peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean are free from oppression, injustice, and economic and political subordination.

Elliott Young is professor of history at Lewis & Clark College and the author of “Forever Prisoners: How the United States Made the World’s Largest Immigrant Detention System.”

Fullbright Information session

Interested in teaching, study, or research abroad after graduation? Come to the Fulbright information session this Thursday from 3:30-4:30pm in the Interactive Learning Center (Miller 211)!

The Fulbright program awards grants in over 160 countries.

Come and learn more about the Fulbright U.S. Student program, the opportunities it offers around the world, and the application process.