The 7th International Conference of
Spanish Caribbean/Latina Writers
International Conference of Spanish Caribbean/Latina Writers
The first International Conference of Spanish Caribbean Writers occurred in 1996 and was themed New York in the Caribbean, the Caribbean in New York. Overtime, this conference has drawn from a selection of speakers and participants from Cuba, Dominican Republic, New York, and Puerto Rico. The event brings together scholars, students and writers from the CUNY community, Caribbean communities in New York and other states as well as the population at large, and aims to foster a much-needed dialogue and collective exploration transcending the conventional geographical boundaries of islands, oceans, and Nation-States. It is an effort to conceptualize the Caribbean region to include its Diaspora communities and the mutual influences of one on the other. Selected proceedings from the conferences have made part of a three volume publication Conversación entre escritoras del Caribe hispano. This year's, 7th International Conference of Spanish Caribbean/Latina Writers will be sponsored by Latino Artists Round Table (LART), and Hostos Community College, CUNY.
Organizations that have contributed to the success of these conferences include: the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College, CUNY, The CUNY Caribbean Exchange Program, the Ford Foundation, Hostos Community College, CUNY, Latin American Round Table, Latin American Writers Institute at Hostos Community College, Tertulia de Escritoras Dominicanas en los Estados Unidos, Unión de Mujeres Escritoras de las Antillas (U.M.E.D.A.S.).
Hostos Community CollegeOur mission is to provide educational opportunities leading to socio-economic mobility for first and second generation Hispanics, African Americans, and other residents of New York City who have encountered significant barriers to higher education. In September 1970, the College admitted a charter class of 623 students. Enrollment grew rapidly to more than 2,000 students by June of 1974. In the same year, the State Legislature acted to ease an increasing space shortage by passing a special bill to acquire a second building located directly across from the original site. In the same year, Hostos was granted full and unconditional accreditation. Today, Hostos Community College consists of several buildings and is quickly expanding. It offers a full range of associate degree and professional certificate programs including GED and ESL classes. An ongoing goal of the institution is to offer free cultural events that provide all community members with open access to education.
Latino Artists Round Table – Caribbean/Latina WritersLatino Artists Round Table (LART) is a nonprofit cultural organization based in New York City. Its principal purpose is to promote Latina/o culture in the United States and facilitate interaction between artists living in the United States, Latin America (including the Caribbean) and Spain. LART attempts to strengthen ties with artists living in countries most disconnected from the United States. The reasons for this disconnection vary: state policy, in Cuba’s case, or geographical distance in the case of Spain and some Latin American countries. LART also tries to foment interaction between faintly connected Hispanic cultural areas within the United States. For example, the rich cultural productivity of the Chicanos in the Southwest is barely known in the Eastern part of the country and vice versa. When organizing events, special attention is given to artistic manifestations that have been marginalized due to class or prejudicial motives, such as literature whose themes and style depict the experience and expressive modes of those groups which traditionally have been excluded. The uniqueness of LART originates from the realization of its members that it is necessary to work toward unity in the Hispanic world regardless of our national origin, race, social class, sexual orientation, or the language we use to express our creativity. Our awareness stems from the experience of living in New York and from dedicating ourselves to the city’s cultural activities for more than two decades. LART works primarily with contemporary and popular culture, as well as marginalized communities.
For more information visit www.lartny.org.
