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Conference to tackle Latina issues

March 30, 2000 By Barbara Wolff

Issues of the workplace, sexual identity, the arts, education and more will be under discussion from the standpoint of Latina women April 1 at the university.

The sixth annual Mujer Latina conference, “Uniendo La Fuerza Latina: Reaffirming Ourselves and Redefining Our Roles” will feature speakers from the speakers from across the nation as well as from campus and the Madison community, according to UW–Madison student Jennifer Calderon, one of the event organizers.

The keynote speaker will be Chicago author Ana Castillo. Her canon includes the novels “Peel My Love Like an Onion,” “Mascaras,” the Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award-winning “The Mixquiahuala” and collections of poetry and essays. She recently has published “My Daughter, My Son, The Eagle, The Dove,” a book for adolescents based on Aztec chants. Castillo will deliver the keynote address at 9:15 a.m.; at 1:30 p.m. she will discuss sexual identity.

Also on the agenda will be:

  • Consuelo Castillo Kickbush, retired lieutenant in the United States Army, speaking at about 10:30 a.m. on family issues.
  • Alberto Sandoval-Sanchez, author of “Jose(, Can You See? Latinos On and Off Broadway”, published last year by University of Wisconsin Press. He will take part in a panel discussion at 10:30 a.m. on Latinas in literature.
  • Angelina Pedroso, professor of foreign languages and literature at Northeastern University in Chicago. At 10:30 a.m. she will share thoughts on cultural pride.
  • Silvana Paternostro, finalist for the 1999 PEN/MarthaAlbrand Award for the book “In The Land of God and Man: A Latin Woman’s Journey.” Described as a “Betty Friedan for Hispanic women,” Paternostro has written about “the sexual secret heart” of Latin American culture. She will talk about that subject beginning at 3:15 p.m.

In addition to the guest speaks and panel sessions, the conference will a tour of the “Beads, Body and Soul” exhibition at the Elvehjem Museum of Art, and a wrap-up reception. “We’d like to raise awareness of the wide array of issues that affect Latinas in particular and women in general,” says Calderon. “By fostering dialog and opportunities to network among diverse members of the community, we can work together to advocate for positive change.”

All sessions are free, open to the public and will be held in the Memorial Union or the Red Gym, 716 Langdon St. For more information, contact Calderon or Diana Aguilar at (608) 262-5132/uwmujerlatina@hotmail.com.