2026 CONFERENCE: CULTURA Y RESISTENCIA
Our program this year will celebrate films that honor the enduring legacy of stories and resilience in the Chicanx community. Legendary playwright-director Luis Valdez (writer and director of Zoot Suit, La Bamba, and subject of the documentary American Pachuco: The Legend Luis Valdez) joins playwright-novelist Severo Pérez, director of ...y no se lo tragó la tierra (...and the Earth Did Not Swallow Him), based on Tomás Rivera's seminal novel, for a screening and conversation on Chicano storytelling and cinema.
2025 CONFERENCE: PALABRA Y PODER
A special evening with celebrated writer Sandra Cisneros, author of the beloved classic The House on Mango Street and one of the most influential voices in Chicanx and American literature. Through a reading and conversation with Tomás Rivera Endowed Chair and Professor of Creative Writing, Alex Espinoza, Cisneros shared her work, her life, and her vision. Together, they offered our campus and community an unforgettable celebration of story, heritage, and the transformative power of the written word.
We are excited to share the news that our next conference will be held in-person during the Spring quarter of 2023. Please check our social media for updates!
2022 CONFERENCE: BRINGING US TOGETHER AGAIN
In 2022, our guest speakers focused on exploring and discussing the ways in which writing, art, poetry, and nonfiction can serve as tool to heal and bring communities together.
2021 CONFERENCE: CELEBRATING FIFTY YEARS OF LITERARY LEGACY
In 1971, Quinto Sol Press published Tomás Rivera’s seminal novel ...y no se lo tragó la tierra/ ...and the Earth Did Not Devour Him. 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of this important milestone in the formation of Chicano literature in the United States. The 2021 conference will feature a gathering of writers representing the evolving canons of Chicana/o/x, Latina/o/x literature over the past few decades. Conference events are held virtually via Crowdcast. Click here for our list of events. All events are free and open to the public.
2020 CONFERENCE: ART AND ACTIVISM
Our theme for the Fall 2020 academic period sought to explore, challenge, and interrogate the myriad ways in which activism—in all its forms—influences the production and consumption of art from various mediums (writing, visual art, film, music, performance). We opened up dialogues and lines of communication between a cross-section of artists of various disciplines in order to gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which art and activism continually intersect and overlap, challenge and inspire.
Our 2020-2022 events were held virtually on Crowdcast. All talks are archived there. Click here to access past schedules.
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