HSI Newsletter | July 12, 2019
Do you have some HSI news to share? Please send to Tom O’Donnell (twodonnell@ucdavis.edu) for inclusion in our next edition.
UC Davis Honors Oscar Gomez Jr. with a Posthumous Degree
The Sacramento Bee published a moving tribute to Oscar Gomez Jr.
At 21, Oscar Gomez Jr. was “desarrollando – blossoming,” in the words of Eddie Salas, a close friend and Davis community member. A member of the UC Davis chapter of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán (MEChA) and the host of radio show “La Onda Xicana,” Gomez was known and loved on UC campuses, in state penitentiaries, on fields worked by Chicanx farmers and in his hometown of Baldwin Park – anywhere the airwaves carried his voice on KDVS 90.3 FM, anywhere he had traveled to orally document the struggles of Chicanx people.
The Humanitarian Crisis at the US-Mexico Border
On June 26, the UC Davis Health Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in partnership with the Center for Reducing Health Disparities hosted a half-day symposium “The Humanitarian Crisis at the US-Mexico Border: A Deeper Dive from Diverse Lenses” as part of its Dialogue Series.
The arrival of caravans of primarily Central American immigrants and refugees has triggered a humanitarian crisis that poses multiple challenges to the migrants themselves, their families, and the local, state and federal governments on both sides of the border. The symposium brought together leading experts to: 1) provide an overview of the current situation, 2) discuss the impact of this crisis beyond the border (e.g., on public perceptions), and 3) discuss what role academic institutions can play.
The standing-room-only event featured speakers included the Honorable Xavier Becerra, California Attorney General; Sandra Hernández, MD, President and CEO, California Health
Care Foundation; Liliana Ferrer Silva, Consul General of Mexico in Sacramento; Carlos González Gutiérrez, Consul General de Mexico in Austin, TX; and Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, M.D., Ph.D. Director of the Center for Reducing Health Disparities at UC Davis Health.
Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association Accomplishments
The UC Davis Cal Aggie Alumni Association’s Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association published a list of its accomplishment for the 2018-19 academic year and it’s impressive:
- Andrea Gaytan, was selected as the new Chair, CLAA Scholarship Program.
- Roman Urbano, recognized for his outstanding work as the first Chair, CLAA Scholarship Program;
- Developed a CLAA Strategic Plan with input from alumni, students, faculty, staff, UC CLAA members and community leaders;
- Establishment of a $50,000 Scholarship Endowment for Chicanx Latinx and Filipino students;
- Raised approximated $10,000 for CLAA student scholarships on Give Day from UCD Chicanx Latinx Alumni, awarded approximately $15,000 in CLAA scholarships to date; Established CLAA goal to raise $20,000 for FY 2019-2020 Scholarship Program. $10,000 pledge from a UCD Chicanx Latinx Alum, $7, 000 already committed toward $10,000 match;
- Established a UC CLAA website, social media links to publicize activities and events;
- Co-sponsored the 19th Annual Cesar Chavez Youth Leadership Conference (CCYLC) at the ARC Pavillon on March 11, 2019. Over 1500 students, teachers, parents community leaders and corporate sponsors attended featuring 42 college admissions, financial aid, STEM, career & role model workshops;
- UC Davis hosted statewide UC CLAA Summit Meeting at Alumni Center on May 24, 2019. 65 UC CLAA campus representatives, including UCOP, attended the Summit Meeting;
- CLAA members selected by Chancellor May to serve on UCD Hispanic Serving Institute (HSI) Task Force composed of Alumni Faculty, Staff, and Leadership;
You can read the full account of accomplishments here.
¡MURALES REBELDES!
California Museum | July 25 - December 29, 2019
¡Murales Rebeldes! L.A. Chicana/o Murals under Siege explores the historic censorship, whitewashing, neglect and destruction of Southern California murals from the Chicana/o Movement. Used to express pride and to challenge the status quo, the murals gave the Mexican American community a voice during an era of limited representation.
Do you have some HSI news to share? Please send to Tom O’Donnell (twodonnell@ucdavis.edu) for inclusion in our next edition.
Banner image: Detail, UC Davis Student Community Center, Davis, CA Winter 2012, UC Davis Chicana/o Studies Mural Workshop, Directed by Maceo Montoya. Learn more here.