EPS Diverstiy Speaker Series - Monday,April 7,2008

The Office of Ethnic Programs & Services hosted Diversity Consultant Jorge Zeballos as a part of the EPS Diversity Series. On April 7, Mr. Zeballos presented a workshop on the historical perspective of the Latino Culture and a Question and Answer session discussing many aspects of Latino Culture in the United States and around the World.

Jorge Zeballos is an experienced diversity consultant who has developed a unique and innovative workshop/presentation that explores the racial identity of Latinas and Latinos. 

As the Latino population has become the largest population of color in the country, there is increased scrutiny into how it defines itself racially. This is evident by the number of articles published in the national media and a recent study by the Lewis Mumford Center for Comparative Urban and Regional Research.  How do they see themselves? As white? As indigenous? As black? As mixed? These questions are explored in his presentation, "Cosmic Race, Rainbow People and other Myths: An Exploration of Latinas/os Racial Identity," by examining the historical and contemporary forces that shape that identity.

After setting the historical context, participants are led through an honest dialogue on the impact of this issue on the struggle for social justice in this country and in Latin America.