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El Centro Past Events

Academics Academic Centers and Services South Carolina Centro Latino El Centro Past Events

Archive

These are the past events from Fall 2025 to the Summer of 2024.

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  • August

    Monday, August 18: Community & Student Engagement Meet & Greet

    • Stop by El Centro’s table from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. in the Campus Life Center (CLC) Patio & Surrounding Areas.

    Monday, August 27: Premier Fair

    • Stop by El Centro’s table from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in the Campus Life Center (CLC) Patio & Surrounding Areas.

    September

    Wednesday, September 3: A Conversation with Artists with Third Terrain

    • Join artists for a discussion exploring the transformative role of the arts in fostering community care and resilience. This conversation brings together artists Federico Cuatlacuatl, Emilio Rojas, and Kiley Brandt to share insights on how their creative practices engage issues of migration, identity, and ancestral knowledge.
    • Moderated by Michael Webster (Wofford College) 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m., in Room 117 in the CASB.
    • This Hispanic Heritage Month event will count for El Centro Public Scholars Program. Refreshments will be served. Open to the public.
    • This event is presented in conjunction with the exhibition “Third Terrain” at the Richardson Family Art Museum at Wofford College, Spartanburg, and the art gallery Tiger Strikes Asteroid in Greenville. We invite you to attend the accompanying exhibition events:
    • “Third Terrain – Act I” exhibition reception and panel discussion, 5:00 PM, September 11, 2025 at the Rosalind S. Richardson Center for the Arts at Wofford College.
    • “Third Terrain – Act II” exhibition reception, 6:00 – 9:00 PM, Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Greenville, SC.


    Thursday, September 4: On-Campus Job Fair

    • Stop by El Centro’s table from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the Health Education Complex (HEC) Lobby/Avenue.


    Wednesday, September 10: Engaging Communities in Conservation Through Culture and Stewardship

    • Join panelists for an important dialogue in celebration of Latino Conservancy Week. Michael Brown, Executive Director of Sustaining Way, Fernanda Rabago, Sustaining Way Operations Manager, and Dr. Marlon A. Smith, Center for Africana & African American Studies & Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m., in Room 117 in the CASB.
    • This Hispanic Heritage Month event will count for El Centro Public Scholars Program. Refreshments will be served. Open to the public.


    Tuesday, September 16: National Voter Registration Day

    • Stop by El Centro’s table from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in front of HPAC.


    Tuesday, September 17: College Majors Fair

    • Stop by El Centro’s table from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. URC.


    Friday, September 19: Interactive Artist Talk (in English) with artist Luis Alvaro Sahagún Nuño

    • Meet artist and healer Luis A. Sahagún whose work will be exhibited at the Upstate Gallery in the Chapman Cultural Center. 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m., in Room 150 (BMW Classroom) at the George Dean Johnson College of Business and Economics (JCBE), 160 East St. John Street, Spartanburg, 29302. Co-sponsored with Prof. Brian Brady, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at JCBE. Volverse a Volar: A Lecture Limpia is an experimental interactive ritual and performance charged with the vibrant sounds and spirit of the mercado, the chatter of the merolico, the clatter of kitchen blenders, rattles, conch shells, buffalo drums, and the hum of telenovelas leaking through the walls, all looped and layered live.
    • This Hispanic Heritage Month event counts for El Centro Public Scholars Program. Refreshments served. Open to the public.


    Friday, September 22: LASO International Festival

    • Stop by El Centro’s table from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Lower Quad


    Tuesday, September 30: International Translators Day

    October

    October 6-10, 2025: National Voter Education Week

    Wednesday, October 8: Hispanics in the US

    • El Centro’s Director is a guest speaker in Dr. Angélica Lozano-Alonso’s Spanish class at Furman University.

    Saturday, October 11: CONECTA Business Expo 2025

    • El Centro’s Director is a guest seminar speaker, alongside Dr. Frank Rodriguez, South Carolina 2025 Superintendent of the Year serving Beaufort County School District.

    Tuesday, October 14: SCW Career Fair

    • Stop by El Centro’s table from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the Campus Life Center (CLC) Ballroom.

    Wednesday, October 15: SMC Women’s Symposium

    • El Centro’s Director is a guest speaker at Spartanburg Methodist College.

    Wednesday, October 15: Hispanic Heritage Night Celebration

    • Stop by El Centro’s table from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Lone Oak Elementary School.

    Monday, October 27: Trunk or Treat 2025

    • Stop by El Centro’s trunk from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at G.B. Hodge Center Parking Lot.

    Wednesday, October 29: Virtual Webinar on Education Opportunities Through El Centro (in Spanish), hosted by the Mexican Consulate

    • Co-presenters: El Centro’s Director and Valeria Pérez-Espinosa-de-los-Monteros (El Centro Marketing Intern),10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 8th Binational Education Week on “Mobility with Inclusion, Building Peace.” Recording.

    November

    November 3-9: First Generation College Student Celebration

    • Events can fall anytime in November and be listed on the event calendar. Contact Buck C. Cooke ([email protected]), Associate Director of Student Involvement for Community and Student Engagement.

    Tuesday, November 4: SHPE Equipando Padres Bilingual Engagement Fair

    • Stop by El Centro’s table from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. University Center of Greenville. Invited by Clemson University SHPE Engineering Students.

    Wednesday, November 5: Honoring Our Voices Through Digital Storytelling

    • As we celebrate the Day of the Dead / Día de los Muertos and other holidays, join El Centro to explore your written and visual creativity! Explore digital storytelling tools to narrate and archive cultural traditions. Participate in a Storytelling Circle! Tasha Thomas, the Director of First-Year Writing, offers a free workshop open to students in all majors. This event counts for the El Centro Public Scholars Program.
    • 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m., in room 309 in the College Life Center (CLC).

    Wednesday, November 12: On Digital Access and Wellness

    • Melissa Anne Cunningham-Sereque, Kennesaw State University doctoral candidate and industry leader, presents her research in the course, Latino Cultural Outreach and Wellness, on digital access and its relationship to the social determinants of health. This event counts for the El Centro Public Scholars Program.
    • 2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m., in room 238 in the library.

    Saturday, November 15: Spartan Saturday

    • Stop by El Centro’s table from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Olin B. Sansbury Jr. Campus Life Center

    Wednesday, November 19: On Leadership, Cultural Outreach, and Wellness

    • Antonio Tanner, the Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Spartanburg, speaks with students at USC Upstate about using all their talents in the mental health field. Antonio Tanner talks about bilingual administration, programming, and outreach. This event counts for the El Centro Public Scholars Program.
    • 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., in room 238 in the library.

    Thursday, November 20: Amigos de Chaser at Spartanburg Community College Meeting

    • El Centro’s Director is a guest speaker in the new student organization led by Roxy Arias.
    • 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

    December

    Wednesday, December 3: Celebrating Graduating El Centro Public Scholars

    • Join us and Avanzando from 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. in the University Resource Center (URC). Fernando Soto, a bilingual journalist, entrepreneur, and mentor, will serve as our keynote speaker. Fernando is Head of Latino Marketing & Community Relations at George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers.

    Other

    Avanzando Through College: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 pm, LIB by RSVP

    • Sept. 25, Oct. 2, Oct. 23, Nov. 6, Nov. 20, and Dec. 3 at 2:00 p.m., URC

  • January

    Saturday, January 11: Modern Language Association Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana

    • El Centro’s Director co-presents on multilingualism and the university, sponsored by MLA committee on K-16 Alliances, chaired by Dr. Christian Rubio of Bentley University

    January 15-18: 2025 Education Community of Practice Convening, UnidosUS /Avanzando at the University of Texas El Paso

    • El Centro’s director and Dr. Susannah Waldrop (Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Success) train for Avanzando Through College and Avanzando for Success programs

    Wednesday, January 22: Winter Blast

    • Stop by El Centro’s table from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in the CLC Ballroom

    February

    Wednesday, February 5: Nuevo Sur: The Wondrous Journey of a Latino Advocate in SC

    • Ivan Segura, Executive Director of Palmetto Luna Arts & Director of Multicultural Affairs for the SC Commission for Minority Affairs, 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m., in Room 117 in the CASB
      • This event will count for El Centro Public Scholars Program


    Wednesday, February 19: From Mexico to Arizona: Educational Trajectories of Transnational Students in Arizona Universities

    • Dr. Laura Dicochea, PhD Transborder Studies Arizona State University, 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. in Room 117 in the CASB
      • This event will count for El Centro Public Scholars Program

    March

    Wednesday, March 5: Give Yourself Permission to Dream as an Immigrant

    • Join us to hear from Ghisela Eljach, CEO, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of inSouth Magazine from 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. in Room 150 (BMW Classroom) at the George Dean Johnson College of Business and Economics (JCBE), 160 East St. John Street, Spartanburg, 29302. Día Internacional de la mujer. Co-sponsored with Prof. Brian Brady, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at JCBE.
      • This event will count for El Centro Public Scholars Program

    Wednesday, March 19: 10th Annual Translation & Interpreting Conference

    Saturday, March 22: Learn about El Centro @ USC Upstate’s Open House

    Monday, March 24: Building the Higher Education Pipeline in the Southeast for Hispanics and Latinos Summit

    • Russell House, USC, 1400 Greene St., Columbia, SC, 29208. Registration to be posted here.

    April

    Saturday, April 5: 37th Annual Carolina Association of Translators & Interpreters (CATI) Conference

    April 11-12: Southeastern Immigration Studies Association Annual Conference (SEISA)

    • Located at the College of Charleston and The Citadel
    • Proposals are due here by January 31, 2025 and registration will available here

    Tuesday, April 15: Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Women’s & Gender Studies Career Fair at USC Upstate

    • Stop by El Centro’s table from 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. in the CLC Ballroom

    Wednesday, April 23: Celebrating Graduating El Centro Public Scholars

    • Join us and Líderes Avanzando from 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. in the CLC Ballroom

     

    Other

    Avanzando Through College: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 pm, LIB 238 by RSVP

    • Jan. 23, Feb. 6 & 20, March 6, 20 & 28, April 3 & 23 at 2:00 p.m.
      • April 23 is open to the public

    Avanzando For Success: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 pm, LIB 238 by RSVP

    • Jan. 30, Feb. 13 & 27, March 20 & 28, April 3, 10 & 23 
      • April 23 is open to the public

  • August

    Download student-faculty co-authored El Centro Newsletters. Sign up here for monthly newsletters to be published during the first week of every month. Keep up by visiting El Centro’s linktr.ee. 

    September

    National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15-October 2024

    “Recognizing Your Voice: Embracing Your Experience,” Panel, Wednesday, September 18, 5-6:15pm, HEC Smith Boardroom (2086), refreshments served, counts for El Centro Public Scholars Program. Hispanic Heritage Month event and Open Classroom Speaker Series.

    Panelists: Lety Arnold, Marketing Professional, Class of 2015, Nora Curiel, Associate Director – Upstate Family Resource Center, Paula Garcia de la Vega, CEO Expolatina Business, President WEF SC, Yasmin Juarez Carrera, Teacher, Class of 2024, and Itzel Tello Lennon, Sales Support Specialist, Transales, Inc., Class of 2019.

    “Empowering Communities: A Latina’s View on Language Access,” Jeannette Houchens, President and Founder of HIT Services, Wednesday, September 25, 5-6:15pm. HEC Smith Boardroom (2086), refreshments served, counts for El Centro Public Scholars Program. Hispanic Heritage Month event and Open Classroom Speaker Series.

    International Translators Day, September 30, 2024

    October

    “Give Yourself Permission to Dream as an Immigrant,” by Ghisela Eljach, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of inSouth Magazine, CEO, Wednesday, October 2, 5-6:15pm. HEC Smith Boardroom (2086), refreshments served, counts for El Centro Public Scholars Program. Hispanic Heritage Month event and Open Classroom Speaker Series.

    Latina Equal Pay Day, October 3, 2024 

    CONECTA Business Expo 2024, El Centro’s Director is a Guest Seminar Speaker alongside Dr. Frank Rodriguez, serving Beaufort County School District and recently named the South Carolina 2025 Superintendent of the Year, Saturday, October 5, Bluffton, SC.

    El Centro Tabling @ SCW Career Fair, Tuesday, October 8, 11:00 AM-1:00 PM, CLC Ballroom.

    National Voter Education Week, October 7-11, 2024

    Indigenous Peoples’ Day / Día de la Raza, October 14, 2024 

    “Feminist Perspectives from Spain and Latin America,” by Dr. Begoña Caballero-García, Professor at Wofford College, Wednesday, October 30, 5-6:15pm, HEC Smith Boardroom (2086), refreshments served, counts for El Centro Public Scholars Program. Hispanic Heritage Month event and Open Classroom Speaker Series.

    November

    Talk on “Education & the Youth,” by Hope Blackley, CEO and Governmental Liaison for South Carolina State University, Wednesday, November 13, 5-6:15pm, HEC Smith Boardroom (2086), refreshments served, counts for El Centro Public Scholars Program. Open Classroom Speaker Series.

    Talk on “A Survey of Latino Contributions in the US,” by José Pereira González, Bilingual Outreach at the Spartanburg Library, Thursday, November 14, 3:30-4:30pm, Humanities & Performing Arts Center (HPAC) Room 120, counts for El Centro Public Scholars Program. RSPV or questions, contact Tracy Stapleton, Adjunct Instructor of Spanish: [email protected].

    Roundtable on “The Data Landscape of Public Humanities,” National Humanities Conference, Providence RI, November 16, 3:20 pm-4:15 pm, co-presenters, Roopika Risam (Dartmouth), Matt Farley (Campus Compact), Jim McGrath (Salem State U), Katherine Stevens (Mass Humanities Council), Scott Wands (Connecticut Humanities), and El Centro’s Director.

    Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, November 19, 2024 

    December

    “Celebrating Graduating El Centro Public Scholars,” the Honorable Sarai Melendez (City of Walhalla) and Gabrielle Drake (assistant chair), Wednesday, December 4, 5-6:15pm, HEC Smith Boardroom (2086), refreshments served, counts for El Centro Public Scholars Program.

    Other

    • Las Profesoras y Tú, Facebook Live Sessions demystifying the college experience for Spanish-speaking families, monthly dates and topics TBD and posted here.
      • Avanzando Through College, 5:30-7:30 pm, LIB 238 by Cohort Invitation, Sept. 19, Oct. 3 & 24, Nov. 7 & 21 (See Dec. 4 event above as it is open to the public).
    • The Alicante, Spain Summer 2025 Program is open! Visit the Alicante faculty led study abroad page for more information.

  • January

    • El Centro Hub is open, Humanities and Performing Arts Center (HPAC 227). Students in any major and from all cultures, ask us about El Centro Public Scholars Program. Get credit for attending events, volunteering, presenting & publishing with El Centro Scholar Commons, and get recognized at graduation!
    • Call for Proposals due by Jan. 31 here. Southeastern Immigration Studies Association Annual Conference (SEISA), April 19-20, 2024, Wofford College. Theme: “Movement, Disruptions & Opportunities: Stories of Migration.” Register here.

    February

    • 2024 Education Community of Practice Convening, UnidosUS /Avanzando, February 4-5, 2024, Arizona State University.
    • El Centro Advisory Council Meeting, Monday, February 12, 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm, Zoom.
    • Global Feminism Panel, Monday, February 19, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm, Rutland Institute for Ethics, Clemson University.

    March

    • Las Profesoras y Tú, Facebook Live Sessions demystifying the college experience for Spanish-speaking families from Charleston to the Upstate. Topic on Valuing the Public Humanities in all majors. March 1, 3 p.m., link to be posted here
    • GSA Women of Influence, El Centro’s director is one of the honorees. March 13, 11:30 a.m., Hyatt Regency Greenville. Purchase tickets here.
    • Uplifting Your Story with Cassie Tanks (Northeastern U) & Jasmin Elizalde (LASO President), Interactive, Hands-On Digital Public Humanities Black Paris & El Centro Public Scholars Workshop, Thursday, March 14, 5:30-6:45 p.m., Campus Life Center (CLC) Ballroom.
    • Second Annual Anderson School District One, Your Future is Bright Fest, A Day Devoted to Shine a Light on Our Multilingual Students’ Future, Saturday, March 16, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Palmetto Middle School Gym, 140 Middle School Rd, Williamston, SC, 29697
    • Check out El Centro @ USC Upstate Career Fair, March 19, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. CLC Ballroom.
    • El Centro engages families at Fairforest Elementary School’s STEAM night, March 19, 5-6:30 p.m.
    • El Centro engages high school students at the World Cultures Day, March 22, URC.
    • Sharing our Stories as Women of Color Full Professors, (Drs. Carmen V. Harris, Esther Liu Godfrey and Araceli Hernández-Laroche), Moderator: Gabrielle Drake, LLC Assistant Chair, World Language Coordinator, Women’s History Month, March 26, 12:30-1:30 PM, Location HEC 2023. Light Refreshments served.
    • Columbia College Voter Registration Ed Panel, Multicultural Affairs & Community Resources, March 26, 6-7:30 p.m.
    • 9th Annual Translation & Interpreting Conference, Wednesday, March 27, 3-4:15 p.m. This is a hybrid event. Attend in-person at the Campus Life Center (CLC) Ballroom. Join virtually here.

    April

    • McMahon Lecture on El Centro & Importance of Languages at Awards Ceremony, April 3-4, East Carolina University, NC.
    • El Centro’s Tentacularity: Extending the Importance of Language Learning Beyond the Boundaries of the Language Program, April 11, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Vista Higher Learning Webinar. Register for the webinar here.
    • CUMU panel for the Swarthmore College Annual Engaged Scholarship Symposium, April 17, 12-1:30 p.m. EST (Virtual) “Making our Work Public.” Storytelling, Celebrating and Elevating Our Campus and Community Partners Through South Carolina Centro Latino. Presenters: Araceli Hernández-Laroche & Maria Francisco-Montesó with El Centro Marketing Student Interns, Danna Lopez, Zaray Lopez, and Dalexander Zegarra
    • (Story) Mapping El Sur Latinx with Dr. Tim Monreal, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, April 18, 5-6:15 p.m., HPAC 234.
    • Southeastern Immigration Studies Association Annual Conference (SEISA), April 19-20, 2024, Wofford College. Theme: “Movement, Disruptions & Opportunities: Stories of Migration.” Register here.
    • El Centro engages new families at Admitted Students Day, April 26, 9-10 a.m., G.B. Hodge Center.
    • El Centro engages the business community at Power Up Spartanburg’s 1-Year Celebration, April 29, 5-7 p.m., Fr8 Yard, Downtown Spartanburg.

    Other

    • Las Profesoras y Tú, Facebook Live Sessions demystifying the college experience for Spanish-speaking families, monthly dates and topics TBD and posted here.
    • Avanzando Through College, 5:30-7:30 pm, LIB 238 by RSVP, Jan. 25, Feb. 8 & 22, March 14 & 28, April 11 (See March 14 event above as it is open to the public).

  • June and July

    • Alicante, Spain Study Abroad, June 1-29, 2024
    • Certificate Course on Professional Spanish Interpreting in Schools Settings, July 2024
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