September 2021 Diversity Programming Highlights
Turning Point Services Donation Drive
Wednesday, Sept. 1 – Monday, Sept. 13
(Cultural Exploration)
The Safe Zone Resource Center in collaboration with Turning Point Services will host a donation drive Sept. 1-13. Turning Point provides direct services for victims, survivors and affected family members of domestic violence and sexual assault. Participants in the drive will learn about domestic violence and sexual assault, warning signs of such acts, and resources available concerning domestic violence and sexual assault. Safe Zone will be accepting new and/or gently used items such as clothing, shoes, socks, hats, gloves, etc. The donations will be presented to Turning Point Services Sept. 14. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month Presentation
Wednesday, Sept. 1 | Noon-1 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center (Ferguson 2100)
(Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will share a PowerPoint presentation focusing on “Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope,” the 2021 theme for Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month. The theme invites participants to celebrate Hispanic heritage while offering information on the Latinx community and reflections on its contributions. For more information, contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu.
Paul R. Jones Museum Exhibit: Constructed Complexity
Opening Reception: Sept. 3 | 5-8 p.m. | 2308 Sixth St., Tuscaloosa
On display through Sept. 24
The Paul R. Jones Museum announces the opening exhibition of the fall season, “Constructed Complexity: Assemblage and Collage in the Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art.” Works by artists Amalia Amaki, Benny Andrews, Joy Ballard-Peters, Hans Bhalla, Allan L. Edmunds, Selma Glass, Sam Gilliam, John T. Riddle Jr., and Molly Brooke Threadgill, among others, will be on view through Sept. 24, with a First Friday reception on Sept. 3 from 5-8 p.m. The exhibition is curated by Emily Bibb, curator of the Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art at The University of Alabama. Learn more about this exhibit.
Social Justice Movie Series: “ANITA: Speaking Truth to Power”
Friday, Sept. 3 | 7 p.m. | Virtual and Intercultural Diversity Center (2100 Ferguson Center)
(Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will continue its Fall 2021 Social Justice Movie Series by featuring “ANITA: Speaking Truth to Power.” This film follows Anita Hill, a lawyer who testified against Clarence Thomas‘s Supreme Court nomination, exposing the problem of sexual harassment around the world. Against a backdrop of sex, politics and race, “ANITA” reveals the intimate story of a woman who spoke truth to power. Hill’s detailed testimony was a turning point for gender equality in the U.S. and ignited a political firestorm about sexual harassment and power in the workplace that resonates still today. A hybrid model of this program will be provided for all participants to engage virtually through Zoom. In order to attend the online component, registration is required at http://tinyurl.com/deiidcevents. For more information, contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu.
Hostile Terrain (HT94) Exhibit Toe Tags Activity
Sunday, Sept. 5 and Sept. 12| Noon-2 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center (Ferguson 2100)
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
To prepare for the installation of Hostile Terrain 94, the UA community can participate in a series of reflection workshops to recognize those who lost their lives while crossing the U.S./Mexico border. HT94 is made up of handwritten toe tags that represent each person who died in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. The tags include names (when known), age, sex, cause of death, condition of body, and location for every person whose body has been recovered. The tags are then placed on a wall map in the exact location where those remains were found. This workshop will ask volunteers to fill out the toe tags and bear witness to the humanitarian crisis that is happening at the U.S. southern border. The activity offers an opportunity for individuals to emotionally connect with the information being conveyed on the tags, to memorialize and stand in solidarity with the lost lives, and to take part in the greater migration conversation. For more information, contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu.
Education Abroad Pop-Up Advising
Tuesday, Sept. 7, 14, 21, 28 | 1-3 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center (2100 Ferguson)
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement)
The Capstone International Center will host weekly information sessions on studying abroad. Individuals who attend the sessions will learn about the role, value and importance of study abroad. In addition, participants will be offered advising on the overall process and timeline for studying abroad, information dispelling myths about Education Abroad, and information on program searching. For more information, contact the Capstone International Center at cic@ua.edu.
Food for Thought: Cultural Learning, Sharing & Teaching
Wednesday, Sept. 8 | Noon-1 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center (2100 Ferguson Center)
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will continue its Food for Thought: Cultural Learning, Sharing & Teaching series featuring activities centered on food, art, music, culture and more. This Food for Thought will be led by Dr. G. Christine Taylor, vice president and associate provost of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and will focus on what diversity is and its importance. Participants will have the opportunity to break down the meaning of DEI, explore what diversity, equity and inclusion looks like within higher education and learn how to make formal strides towards promoting DEI within daily life. Lunch will be provided to those who register. This program will have several giveaways to support educational efforts such as scholarships, backpacks, and University of Alabama swag. Registration is required. For more information, contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu.
Multicultural Coffee Hour
Friday, Sept. 10, 17, 24 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center (2100 Ferguson Center)
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
International Student & Scholar Services and the Intercultural Diversity Center will host weekly coffee hours for students, faculty and staff to enjoy free coffee, tea, snacks and conversation with others from around the world. For more information, contact International Student and Scholar Services at bethanyli@ua.edu.
Social Justice Movie Series: “Paris is Burning”
Friday, Sept. 10 | 7 p.m. | Virtual and Intercultural Diversity Center (2100 Ferguson Center)
(Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will continue its Fall 2021 Social Justice Movie Series with “Paris is Burning,” a 1990 American documentary that chronicles the ball culture of New York City and the African American, Latino, gay, and transgender communities involved in it. This landmark documentary offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion “houses,” from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia and racism. The film features legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women—including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza. A hybrid model of this program will be provided for all participants to engage virtually through Zoom. In order to attend the online component, registration is required at http://tinyurl.com/deiidcevents. For more information, contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu.
Video Game Sunday
Sunday, Sept. 12 | 3-6 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center (2100 Ferguson Center)
(Social Enrichment)
In observance of National Video Games Day, the Intercultural Diversity Center will host Video Game Sunday. Participants will have an opportunity to build community, maintain interpersonal relationships and have fun. In partnership with the Capstone International Center and Saudi Student Association, students will learn the global impact of e-sports, the effect it has on race and diversity in the gaming industry and the availability of various on-campus resources and services. Video Game Sunday will feature various games and include music and food as well as giveaways such as scholarships, backpacks, and University of Alabama swag to support educational efforts. For more information, contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu.
“Border South” Film Screening / Hostile Terrain 94 Exhibit Tour
Film Screening: Monday, Sept. 13 | 4:30-6 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center (2100 Ferguson Center)
Hostile Terrain 94 Exhibit Tour: 6:15-8 p.m. | Maxwell Hall
Exhibit available for viewing: Tuesday-Thursday through Oct. 13| 4-7 p.m. | Maxwell Hall
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement)
In observance of Latinx Heritage Month, the Intercultural Diversity Center will partner with the UA Department of Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies to host a screening of “Border South.” Every year hundreds of thousands of migrants make their way along the trail running from southern Mexico to the U.S. border. Fragmented stories from Hondurans crossing through southern Mexico assemble a vivid portrait of the thousands of immigrants who disappear along the trail. “Border South” reveals the immigrants’ resilience, ingenuity and humor as it exposes a global migration system that renders human beings invisible in life as well as death.
At the conclusion of the film, attendees can visit Maxwell Hall to see the art exhibit and opening of Hostile Terrain 94, handwritten toe tags that represent each person who died in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona while attempting to cross the U.S./Mexico border. Registration is required. For more information, contact Jared Margulies at jdmargulies@ua.edu.
TEDTalk Tuesdays: “Intersectionality & Latinx as Digital Disruptions of Identity in the Media”
Tuesday, Sept. 14 | Noon-1 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center (2100 Ferguson)
(Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will kick off its Fall 2021 TEDTalk Tuesday Series in observance of Latinx Heritage Month by featuring, “Intersectionality & Latinx as Digital Disruptions of Identity in the Media.” Participants will learn the current state of intersectional representation in media and its vast importance to identity formation. Dr. Nathian Rodriguez is a media studies professor within the School of Journalism and Media Studies at San Diego State University. For more information, contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu.
Safe Zone Resource Center: Cinnamon Rolls, Not Gender Roles
Tuesday, Sept. 14, 21, 28 | 1 p.m. | Safe Zone Lounge (2418 Ferguson)
(Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host its weekly Cinnamon Rolls, Not Gender Roles program for individuals of all identities to come together, eat pastries and discuss topics concerning gender identity and performance in our current culture and climate. This group meets weekly on Tuesdays. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
‘Stolen Education: The Legacy of Hispanic Racism in Schools’
Wednesday, Sept. 15 | Noon-1:30 p.m. | Zoom
The College of Human Environmental Sciences Committee on Diversity and Inclusivity presents the documentary and discussion. It is the story of Hernandez et al. vs. Driscoll Consolidated Independent School District of 1956 to end discriminatory practices against Mexican American students. Registration required.
The College of Human Environmental Sciences is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse, inclusive and welcoming campus community in which every student, faculty and staff can thrive.
Learn more about the CHES Committee on Diversity and Inclusivity.
Hostile Terrain 94 (HT94) Exhibit
Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021 – Friday, Oct. 15| 4-7 p.m. | Maxwell Hall
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement)
In observance of Latinx Heritage Month, the Intercultural Diversity Center will partner with the UA Department of Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies to bring the Hostile Terrain 94 exhibit. Hostile Terrain 94 (HT94) is a participatory art project sponsored and organized by the Undocumented Migration Project (UMP), a nonprofit research-art-education-media collective, directed by anthropologist Jason De León. The exhibition is composed of more than 3,200 handwritten toe tags that represent migrants who died trying to cross the Sonoran Desert of Arizona between the mid-1990s and 2019. The construction of HT94 is made possible by teams of volunteers from each hosting location, who participate in tag-filling workshops, where they write the details of the dead and then publicly place the tags on a map in the exact location where each individual’s remains were found. Some tags also contain QR codes that link to content related to migrant stories and visuals connected to immigration, including a virtual exhibition that can be accessed via cellphone. For more information, contact Jared Margulies at jdmargulies@ua.edu.
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing Memorial
Wednesday, Sept. 15 | 8 a.m. | Birmingham
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement)
The UA School of Law Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Black Law Students Association will be taking a group to the 16th Street Baptist Church annual memorial for the four little girls who were killed in the bombing on Sept. 15, 1963. The memorial event will be followed by a discussion. For more information and to reserve a seat visit the Law School website.
Bisexual Pride Week
Thursday, Sept. 16 – Thursday, Sept. 23| 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Safe Zone Student Lounge (2418 Ferguson)
(Cultural Exploration)
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host a visibility social media campaign to bring awareness about bisexuality inclusive resources and media. Information on the bisexual community will be available in the Safe Zone Student Lounge, and pride flags and printed buttons will be offered to promote awareness for identities. All information will be available for students, faculty and staff. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
EveryWoman Book Club
Thursday, Sept. 16 | Noon-1 p.m. | Legend’s Bistro, Hotel Capstone
(Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
The Women and Gender Resource Center will kick off its EveryWoman Book Club series by featuring “The Book of Unknown Americans” by Cristina Henriquez. The book focuses on 15-year-old Maribel Rivera who sustains a terrible injury. The Riveras leave behind a comfortable life in Mexico and risk everything to come to the United States so that Maribel can have the care she needs. Once they arrive, it’s not long before Maribel attracts the attention of Mayor Toro, the son of one of their new neighbors, who sees a kindred spirit in this beautiful, damaged outsider. Their love story sets in motion events that will have profound repercussions for everyone involved. Here Henríquez seamlessly interweaves the story of these star-crossed lovers and of the Rivera and Toro families with the testimonials of men and women who have come to the United States from all over Latin America. “The Book of Unknown Americans” is a stunning novel of hopes and dreams, guilt and love.
For more information, contact Elizabeth Lester at elester1@ua.edu or (205) 348-5040 to be added to the EveryWoman Book Club email list. You can also register for a single meeting online. Join the email for future updates at tinyurl.com/EveryWomanBookClub.
Constitution Day Presentation
Friday, Sept. 17 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center (2100 Ferguson)
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will host a program for Constitution Day, an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. Participants will learn about the importance of Constitution Day, the impact of the constitution on U.S. history, and the rights that all individuals currently have under the constitution. Guests will be provided informational pamphlets, play games and be given constitution cards. Lunch will be provided. Registration is required: tinyurl.com/deiidcevents. For more information, contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu.
Social Justice Movie Series: “Stolen Education: The Legacy of Hispanic Racism in Schools”
Friday, Sept. 17 | 7 p.m. | Virtual and Intercultural Diversity Center (2100 Ferguson)
(Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will continue its Fall 2021 Social Justice Movie Series with a showing of “Stolen Education: The Legacy of Hispanic Racism in Schools.” As a 9-year-old second grader, Lupe had been forced to remain in the first grade for three years, not because of her academic performance but solely because she was Mexican American. She was one of eight young students who testified in a federal court case in 1956 to end the discriminatory practice (Hernandez et al. v. Driscoll Consolidated Independent School District), one of the first post-Brown desegregation court cases to be litigated. “Stolen Education” portrays the courage of these young people, testifying in an era when fear and intimidation were used to maintain racial hierarchy and control. The students won the case, but for almost 60 years the case was never spoken about in the farming community where they lived, despite its significance.
Participants will learn about the inner workings of the judicial system in relation to Mexican Americans and how Mexican Americans are treated in some educational settings. A hybrid model of this program will be provided for all participants to engage virtually through Zoom. Registration is required: http://tinyurl.com/deiidcevents. For more information, contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu.
Tide & Turf Alabama Football Community Building Event
Saturday, Sept. 18 | One hour prior to kickoff | Intercultural Diversity Center (2100 Ferguson)
(Cultural Exploration/Social Enrichment)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will host Tide & Turf for the Alabama Crimson Tide vs. the University of Florida Gators game. Participants will have an opportunity to participate in cultural learning, cultural teaching and cultural sharing while building community. In addition, guests will learn ways to be involved with diversity, equity and inclusion programs, as well as the history and traditions of UA football. This event will feature an exclusive skybox experience with catered food, giveaways, music and more in a safe space. Registration is required: tinyurl.com/deiidcevents. For more information, contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu.
“Amend: The Fight for America” Docuseries and Discussion
Mondays, Sept. 20, 27, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center
Tuesdays, Sept. 21, 28, Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center
(Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will host a six-part docuseries featuring the Netflix original series “Amend: The Fight for America.” This DEI professional development series focuses on the fight for equal rights in America via the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment. Lunch will be provided. This series is only for faculty and staff, who must enroll for the full six weeks and attend with either the Monday or the Tuesday cohort. Similar programming for students will be scheduled during the Spring 2022 semester. The event is co-sponsored by Bama Dining. Registration is required. For more information, send an email to diversity@ua.edu.
“Signs Preceding the End of the World” Book Discussion
Monday, Sept. 20 | 3:30-5:30 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center (2100 Ferguson)
(Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
The UA Latin American, Caribbean, Latinx Studies Program and the Intercultural Diversity Center will host a book discussion of Yuri Herrera’s novel, “Signs Preceding the End of the World” with Dr. Sarah Moody. The book highlights the border between Mexico and the United States and those who cross it. The author explores the crossings and translations people make in their minds and language as they move from one country to another, especially when there’s no going back. Traversing this lonely territory is Makina, a young woman who knows only too well how to survive in a violent, macho world. Leaving behind her life in Mexico to search for her brother, she is smuggled into the USA carrying a pair of secret messages: one from her mother and one from the Mexican underworld. Limited free books will be available in advance. For more information, contact Sarah Moody at stmoody@ua.edu.
‘Pipeline’
Sept. 20-24 and Sept. 26 | 7:30 p.m. each day, an additional 2 p.m. showing Sept. 26 | Allen Bales Theatre, Rowand-Johnson Hall, 348 Stadium Drive
Nya Joseph is a dedicated public high school teacher who only wants the best for her son. Omari, her son, gets tangled in a controversy at his upstate private school, bringing him to the verge of expulsion, threatening the life Nya hoped to give him. Explore her journey as she rallies to save her son from a broken system while being confronted with her own choices as a parent. This play is written by Dominique Morisseau and the production is directed by Ashley White. More information, including ticket options, can be found on the UA Theatre and Dance website.
TEDTalk Tuesdays: “(de)Americanization of Latino Youth”
Tuesday, Sept. 21 | Noon-1 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center (2100 Ferguson)
(Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will kick off its Fall 2021 TEDTalk Tuesday Series in observance of Latinx Heritage Month featuring, “(de)Americanization of Latino Youth.” Dr. Maria Chavez discusses her story, being the child of parents who migrated from Mexico to the U.S. during the Bracero guest worker program. She became the first person in her family to graduate from college, earning her B.A. and M.A. from California State University, Chico, and her Ph.D. from Washington State University. Participants will learn about the challenges Latinos face when being the children of immigrants, and ways Latinos navigate different spaces to have a voice. Dr. Chavez is currently is an associate professor of political science specializing in American government, public policy, and race and politics and the author of “Everyday Injustice: Latino Professionals and Racism.” For more information, contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu.
Panel Discussion: “An Uncertain Climate: Alabama in the Age of Climate Change”
Tuesday, Sept. 21 | 4-5:30 p.m. | Camellia Room, Gorgas Library
This panel discussion, part of the exhibition project Dangerous Landscapes, will kick off on the project’s aims: to encourage conversations within Alabama about how climate change will impact the Deep South, a region expected to experience profound climatic shifts. Panelists will be Christine Bassett, scientist/engineer for Cherokee Nation Business supporting the NOAA Weather Program Office Subseasonal-to-Seasonal Program; Dr. Teresa Cribelli, associate professor of history and project co-organizer; Allison Grant, assistant professor, artist and project co-organizer; and Marshella Hood, activist against environmental racism and a member of Black Belt Citizens Fighting for Health and Justice in Uniontown, Alabama. Visit the UA Department of Art and Art History website for more information.
Diverse Reverse Career Fair
Thursday, Sept. 23 | 5:30-6:30 p.m.
The UA Career Center is taking student organization applications for the Fall 2021 Diverse Reverse Career Fair to be held Sept. 23 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. During this event, employers engage with and recruit students who are involved in diverse organizations at UA. Register your student organization on Handshake. New to Diverse Reverse? Email Joe Hawley at johawley@ua.edu for more information.
Bisexual Pride Day
Thursday, Sept. 23 | 4-6 p.m. | Safe Zone Resource Center (2419 Ferguson)
(Cultural Exploration/Social Engagement)
To celebrate Bisexual Pride Day, the Safe Zone Resource Center will host an LGBTQ+ movie: “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The movie highlights Freddie Mercury’s life as the internationally known lead singer of Queen. The band’s revolutionary sound and popular songs lead to Queen’s meteoric rise in the 1970s. Mercury became one of history’s most beloved entertainers and celebrated bisexual identities, and he was a contributor to the music industry and beyond. Attendees will learn how Mercury navigated a music industry riddled with stereotypes, marginalization, and discrimination to build a reputation as one of the most popular songwriters of his generation. Popcorn and drinks will be offered, and flags promoting bisexual pride will be available to attendees. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
Critical Race Theory: An Overview and Conversation
Thursday, Sept. 23| 6 p.m. | Zoom
(Educational Engagement)
In this webinar, attendees will be introduced to Critical Race Theory by two leading scholars in the field, UA Law professors Jean Stefancic and Richard Delgado, who together wrote the book “Critical Race Theory: An Introduction.” First published in 1995, the book is on its third reprint with New York University Press. Registration is required: tinyurl.com/deiidcevents. For more information, contact Dr. Cassander Smith at clsmith17@ua.edu.
Social Justice Movie Series: “Coco”
Friday, Sept. 24 | 7 p.m. | Virtual and Intercultural Diversity Center (2100 Ferguson)
(Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will continue its Fall 2021 Social Justice Movie Series with a showing of “Coco.” This film highlights a boy named Miguel who dreams of becoming a famous guitar player, despite the misgivings of his close-knit family. When his lofty ambitions cause him to run afoul of a curse, he must journey into the Land of the Dead to seek forgiveness from his ancestors.
In addition to the in-person showing in the Intercultural Diversity Center, a hybrid model of this program will be provided for all participants to engage virtually through Zoom. Registration is required for Zoom: http://tinyurl.com/deiidcevents. For more information, contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu.
Lisa Dillman Virtual Keynote
Monday, Sept. 27 | 4 p.m. | Zoom
(Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
The UA Latin American, Caribbean, Latinx Studies Program and the Intercultural Diversity Center will host Lisa Dillman, who will discuss her award-winning translation of Yuri Herrera’s “Signs Preceding the End of the World.” Dillman, who teaches in the department of Spanish and Portuguese at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, won the 2016 Best Translated Book Award for Herrera’s “Signs.” Registration is required. For more information, contact Sarah Moody at stmoody@ua.edu.
Research, Clinical Practice, and my Latino Neighbors
Tuesday, Sept. 28 | 12:15-1:15 p.m. | Zoom
The College of Community Health Sciences Hispanic Heritage Month Lecture will be given by Carlos Javier Torres, programs director for the Birmingham-based Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama. Torres oversees the organization’s four main programs and advocates for systems changes that allow people to make meaningful contributions to the Hispanic community. Prior to joining HICA, Torres worked as a senior program officer for the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, managing direct services, food systems and green space. He worked for the U.S. Census Bureau as the Alabama statewide Latino Partnership specialist during the 2020 Census and in that role spearheaded efforts to document the growth of the Hispanic community in Alabama, now 5.1% of the state’s population. In addition, Torres served previously as the international program manager for the Jefferson County Department of Public Health in Birmingham, and as adjunct faculty at Samford University in Birmingham and the University of California-San Francisco. Originally from Ponce, Puerto Rico, Torres earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Puerto Rico, and a master’s degree in molecular physiology and biophysics from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Join the webinar.
Safe Zone Study Break
Tuesday, Sept. 28 | 5-7 p.m. | Safe Zone Resource Center (2419 Ferguson)
(Educational Engagement/Social Engagement)
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host a study break event to give students a place to unwind at the start of midterms. Participants can enjoy video games, board games and coloring sheets. Students will learn about balancing schoolwork demands and mental health. Information for tutoring, mental health and involvement services will also be available. Students will be provided with an informational packet on mental health and academic resources. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
‘A Line Birds Cannot See’ Film Showing and Discussion
‘Tuesday, Sept. 28 | 5 p.m. | 3111 Ferguson Student Center
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
The Women and Gender Resource Center and the Intercultural Diversity Center will offer a film showing and discussion with Amy Bench, the director/producer of “A Line Birds Cannot See.” This nine-minute animated film about the U.S./Mexico border provokes reflections about immigration and geography by zooming in on one personal story about crossing the border. In the film, we hear a woman (E.L., a DACA recipient who had been in the U.S. for 13 years) recounting the perilous journey to the U.S., from Guatemala, that she took as a child. When she was growing up in a tiny village high in the mountains of Guatemala, her mother got up the strength to flee a violent home, and she was thrust into a journey that would forever change her. After a smuggler separated mother and daughter, E’s life honed to a single goal—surviving so she could find her mother again.
Bench, who lives in Austin, Texas, is a cinematographer whose work has been screened at festivals including Berlin, SXSW, Sundance, and the New York Film Festival.
Participants will have an intimate look at one immigrant’s journey that reveals a key truth behind the immigration debates. In addition, guests will have a chance to speak with the film maker to gain insight on the film. For more information, contact Elizabeth Lester Elester1@ua.edu, 205- 348-5040.
Multicultural Faculty and Staff Welcome
Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021 | 5-7 p.m. | Bryant Conference Center
(Cultural Exploration/Social Enrichment)
The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion invites new UA faculty and staff to its Multicultural Welcome for an opportunity to learn about campus employee resource groups and to network with peers. This event will include a general welcome, refreshments and more while featuring the following employee resource groups: Black Faculty and Staff Association, Chinese Faculty and Staff Association, Hispanic/Latinx Faculty and Staff Association, Jewish Faculty and Staff Association, Korean Faculty and Staff Association, and Capstone Alliance. For more information, contact the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at diversity@ua.edu or 205-348-2053.
Culverhouse Hispanic Heritage Month DEI Speaker Series: Hernan Prado
Wednesday, Sept. 29 | Noon | Virtual
Hernan Prado, a 2001 UA graduate, is the chief executive officer at HOLA Latino and finance analyst at BBVA. His presentation is about his career path and how HOLA Latino started in Alabama. To attend, register at Hernan Prado: Sept. 29. For more information about this event, contact Kelsi Long at kalong2@crimson.ua.edu. The event is sponsored by the Culverhouse College of Business. Read more about diversity, equity and inclusion at Culverhouse.