ANNOUNCING THE NEW ENGLAND FESTIVAL OF IBERO-AMERICAN CINEMA 2010

The 1st Annual New England Festival of Ibero-American Cinema (NEFIAC) will be held Saturday, September 18, 2010 through Saturday, September 25, 2010 in Providence, RI. NEFIAC will be screening films at the Avon Cinema and the Cable Car Cinema, as well as various University locations. Screenings in other cities in the area will take place in Cambridge, MA (Harvard Film Archives); New Haven, CT (Yale University); and Williamsburg, VA (William & Mary College).

The New England Ibero-American Film Festival (NEFIAC) is a ground-breaking competitive film festival dedicated to the promotion of the Hispanic and Portuguese cultures through the exhibition and discussion of feature films, documentaries, shorts and animations, as well as through other artistic manifestations, produced in or about Latin America, Spain and Portugal. NEFIAC's mission is to link the rich academic knowledge available in the New England region to the community at large.

For more information or to keep up to date with the 2010 schedule of events, please visit www.nefiac.com or contact CLACS Outreach Coordinator and NEFIAC director José Torrealba at (401) 863-2645 or by email.

"THE BRAZILIAN ELECTIONS: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF BRAZIL AND LATIN AMERICA," 11/4

In light of the historically significant Brazilian election that will take place this October, following eight years of the popular Lula presidency, the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and the Watson Institute for International Studies will host a workshop on "The Brazilian Elections: Implications for the Future of Brazil and Latin America" on November 4, 2010. Distinguished participants will share their perspectives on the election, reflect on recent changes in Brazilian politics, and consider more broadly the contradictions and possibilities of the "next left" in Latin America.

"HAITI, HISTORY, HEALING: FACING THE CHALLENGES OF RECONSTRUCTION," 11/13-11/15

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies is pleased to announce that Brown University is hosting the 22nd annual conference of the Haitian Studies Association. "Haiti, History, Healing: Facing the Challenges of Reconstruction" will be held from November 11-13, 2010, with a detailed schedule of events to be announced shortly. To receive additional information or to register for the conference, please visit the Haitian Studies Association website here.

JOB POSITION

Brown University, located in Providence, RI, seeks an Outreach Coordinator at the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies to assist the Center's Director in the development and production of the New England Festival of Ibero-American Cinema; the organization of film series; the development of promotional materials; the organization of the Center’s Speakers Series; scheduling; the organization of conferences and symposia; and community outreach.  Requirements include a bachelor’s degree in Latin American Culture, Media, or Film; knowledge of Latin American cinema history and production; background in graphic design; Latino community contacts; and fluent Spanish or Portuguese.  Please send resumes to Susan Hirsch, Administrative Manager, at Susan_Hirsch@brown.edu.

ALUM SPOTLIGHT: TAYLOR BARNES '09

Since graduating from Brown, CLACS concentrator and former DUG leader Taylor Barnes '09 has worked as a correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor. Taylor recently published pieces exploring the fluid border between Mexico and Texas ("Mexico: All Aboard the 'School-Bus' Plane to Texas") and the success of Mexican immigrant investors in San Antoni0 ("Who's Creating US Jobs? Mexicans"). Her future plans include freelancing for the Monitor in Mumbai and eventually returning to Latin America or Mozambique to continue working on her Spanish and Portuguese. CLACS congratulates Taylor and wishes her continued success in these endeavors!

Choices on Haiti!

Brown’s Choices Program has developed a lesson for high school students, drawing on interviews with two Brown faculty members Professors Tony Bogues (Africana Studies) and Patrick Sylvain (Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies). The Haitian Crisis: Thinking Historically challenges students to think beyond the earthquake, consider the role of Haiti’s rich history in the current crisis, and think about the global role in long term reconstruction.

"Ports of Sorrow," poem by Professor Patrick Sylvain

Brown University Haitian Creole language and culture Professor Patrick Sylvain is also a writer, essayist and poet. Professor Sylvain has been published in several anthologies, magazines and reviews including African American Review, Agni, and American Poetry Anthology, among several others. His latest book, Love, Lust & Loss / Lanmou, anvi ak pèdans, was published by Mémoire d'Encrier in October 2005. To listen to Professor Sylvain's interview on PBS' Art Beat Weekly Poem, please visit PBSNEWSHOUR. If you want to read more of his poetry, please go to the Brockton Public Library Poetry Series.