Campus & Community

The Trump agenda and immigration to the United States are among the topics that will be discussed at the 8th Annual Spanish Language Celebration at Palm Beach State College’s Palm Beach Gardens campus March 21.

Themed “Engagement, Exchange and Understanding,” the celebration takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. in the BioScience Technology Complex, Room SC 127. The events, which are free and open to the public, include a panel discussion, a film presentation and a lecture on Latino American cultural narratives, among others.

“The Trump Agenda and Immigration to the United States” talk will be a panel discussion from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The panel consists of three local immigration attorneys: Aileen Josephs, Jill Hanson and Isabel Castillo. Also on the panel is Aliddy S. Diaz, PBSC student government president.

Immediately following that event, PBSC English Professor Jenifer Skolnick and Spanish Professor Dr. Emmanuel Alvarado will present “Themes and Styles in Modern Latino American Cultural Narratives.” Attendees at this event will learn more about how the immigration experience has shaped the life of Hispanics in the United States, biculturalism and bilingualism as a key to understand the fluid and dynamic identity of contemporary Latinos, and how the Latino experience in the U.S. will help shape the broad and long term project of multiculturalism in America.

The day also features a presentation by Mike Ambrosino, marketing manager at World Languages at McGraw Hill, on his experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica.

According to Alvarado,  who has been organizing the celebration since the fall of 2013, the day benefits students and the local community by widening and promoting intercultural understanding.

The Spanish Language Celebration was launched in 2010 by former PBSC professor Patricia Betancourt. For the complete schedule of events and information on presenters, visit www.palmbeachstate.edu/Events/Spanish-Celebration.