Creating Towards Utopia: An Evening of Art, Poetry, and Conversation

On the evening of Friday, April 25th, friends, family, and faculty members gathered at Café Southside to support students in CHIC 4232 Chicano/a - Latino/a Gender & Sexuality Studies, a course in the Chicano & Latino Studies Department at the U of M taught by Jessica López Lyman. As part of their final projects, students elected to showcase their creativity through art and poetry.

The course explored the works of Cherríe Moraga, Gloria Anzaldúa, Emma Pérez, José Esteban Muñoz, and Brandon Lacy Campos. Students were asked to present their own idea(s) of Utopia, one that progresses toward a "forward-dawning futurity"--a space which celebrates people of diverse identities and experiences.

This Spring 2014, some MLK students took this class and their work is highlighted below. Yen Tran (Fluidity) and Khin Oo (Finding the Utopian in the Quotidian) both presented visual art pieces and Jessica Ngo read from a written piece entitled, "Be."

The MLK Jr. Program would like to congratulate these students on their hard work in this course.

L-R: Yen Tran (Fluidity), Jessica Ngo ("Be"), and Khin Oo (Finding the Utopian in the Quotidian)

MLK Spotlight - Warlance: A Celebration of Our Cultural Heritage

Warlance is a junior majoring in Communication Studies. This post is part of the MLK Spotlight, a regular feature on our blog. The goal is to highlight MLK student (or staff) stories, experiences, and perspectives. Have something you'd like to share? Send an email to mlkdesk@umn.edu, or ask your adviser!

Warlance and the mural he created on the second floor of Coffman Memorial Union

It can be said that the context of life is based upon the influential cultures that it embodies. Existent upon this is the collective instinct of human nature to expressively display culture in daily experience. Here, at the University of Minnesota, the Second Floor of Coffman is where the diversity of culture manifests and it is the place to be on campus. Art thrives, cultures mix, and the collective actions of peace, love, and happiness influence every attitudinal gesture that reflects the purposes of the Second Floor of Coffman. Whether to “bridge the gap," appreciate differences, or instill a level of comfort accessible to all, the Second Floor of Coffman has every intention to celebrate the diversity that exists here at the University of Minnesota. It was this objectivity that gave me the inspiration to construct a piece of artwork that would embody the purpose of every culture that lives and thrives from within the University. 

MLK Spotlight - Julia: Working to reduce suicide rates

This post is part of the MLK Spotlight, a regular feature on our blog. The goal is to highlight MLK student (or staff) stories, experiences, and perspectives. Have something you'd like to share? Send an email to mlkdesk@umn.edu, or ask your adviser! Julia shared with us the blurb below. To read more about her mission, click here. 

One year ago the University of Minnesota lost Matt Challou, an amazing student, to suicide. Julia Schliesing, a friend of Matt and an MLK senior and political science major, decided to run for Miss America in order to reduce the suicide rate in this country. Last fall she took home the title of Miss Minneapolis, and will compete for the title of Miss Minnesota in June. 

On Wednesday, February 19 from 11 am - 1 am at the Station 19 Buffalo Wild Wings off of University Ave, Julia will be hosting the Matt Challou Memorial Fundraiser. On the day of the fundraiser, 10% of all food purchases will go to Julia's favorite organization, Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE), which educates local communities about suicide prevention.  Stop in at anytime during the 19th to meet Miss Minneapolis and selflessly enjoy some delicious food. There will be acoustic live music in the evening, a silent auction, and a raffle; just print off and bring the ticket below. Bring your friends!

MLK Spotlight - Peter: Marine Biology & Sharks in the Bahamas

This post is part of the MLK Spotlight, a regular feature on our blog. The goal is to highlight MLK student (or staff) stories, experiences, and perspectives. Have something you'd like to share? Send an email to mlkdesk@umn.edu, or ask your adviser!

My name is Peter Xiong and I am a sophomore in the College of Liberal Arts Martin Luther King Jr. Program.  When I first came into the University of Minnesota, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.  All I knew was that I had a passion for science and animals.  I particularly liked marine organisms such as the elusive and horrific moray eel. But being so far from the oceans I thought of this more of a hobby than a career. But spending my freshmen year at the College of Liberal Arts I was able to take some classes related to my interests and continue to build on that interest. With the help of my academic adviser I was pointed in the right direction.

My intended major is Fisheries and Wildlife B.S. in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences with an emphasis on conservation biology. I also plan on minoring in marine biology through CFANS as well.

My interests in marine biology led me to go study abroad in the Bahamas for one very short but adventurous week. The Tropical Marine Biology and Shark Ecology course I took in the Bahamas was an amazing once in a life time experience.  I was also able to swim with a ten foot tiger shark, feed baby lemon sharks, feed stingrays, and saw the pristine untouched ecosystems. I also got bit by a squid, stepped on a sea urchin, and got stung by upside down jellyfishes!  

We stayed for one week at the Shark Lab and received two lectures a day with an identification lab. This was also my first time traveling outside of the country and even riding an airplane! I also have never swam in water where I could not feel the bottom; when we were given the green light to jump in with the tiger shark I immediately jumped into five hundred feet deep waters! I have overcome so many fears and accomplished so many personal achievements. I now am planning to attend another study abroad trip by the University of Minnesota, the Biology of the Galapagos and hopefully the study abroad trip down to the Honduras as well next winter.

It has been such a privilege to go down to the Bahamas and have such hands on experience with the kind of work that I hope to be doing in the near future.

MLK Spotlight - Christina: Summer research on Chinese adoptee experiences

Christina is a junior majoring in English with a minor in Technical Communication. This post is part of the MLK Spotlight, a regular feature on our blog. The goal is to highlight MLK student (or staff) stories, experiences, and perspectives. Have something you'd like to share? Send an email to mlkdesk@umn.edu, or ask your adviser!

Christina at the Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium.

My name is Christina Leighton, and I am part of the MLK Program. This last summer, I had an amazing opportunity to research through the Multicultural Summer Research Opportunity Program (MSROP) at the University of Minnesota. I would encourage anyone who is interested in research and or graduate school to look into this program for summer 2014! 

My research, “Complex Identities and Relationships: Four Documentaries on the Chinese Adoptee Experience," discussed common issues that Chinese adoptees in America face within three important relationships: birthparents, adoptive parents, and peers and community. I chose four documentaries, out of eleven, in order to analyze similarities and differences of Chinese adoptees and their families. Issues with identity, culture, history, and coping were prevalent in all the documentaries. The research was presented at the Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium on campus and within a final research paper for the program. 

MLK Spotlight - Mali: Reflecting on my summer publishing internship

Mali is a senior in MLK, majoring in Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature with a minor in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies. This post is part of the MLK Spotlight, a regular feature on our blog. The goal is to highlight MLK student (or staff) stories, experiences, and perspectives. Have something you'd like to share? Send an email to mlkdesk@umn.edu, or ask your adviser!

Mali's experience this summer as an Editorial Assistant intern with Free Spirit Publishing gets her one step closer to academic and career goals.

As I approach graduation, my focus for my last months of school turns toward gaining valuable work experience. Throughout this year I worked as a Special Projects Assistant Intern at the Tubman Center for Women and an Editorial Assistant Intern at Free Spirit Publishing this summer. My internship at Free Spirit has been particularly special because it is aligned with my career and academic goals, and accompanies my award of the CLA Internship Scholarship to help with summer expenses during my duration at the company.

Being a CLA student, my academics are strongly interdisciplinary; and therefore, my career goals are as well. I initially sought out an internship in publishing because I wanted to gain more literary and writing experience–experience I know will be essential to a successful graduate and undergraduate career. Having experience through the Multicultural Family Literacy Program, I also had worked with children. The synthesis of my work experience and career goals rendered an interest in children’s literature. The Twin Cities are a great place to pursue work in publishing, but there are few that focus on children’s literature. I found my internship by Internet research of children’s publishing companies in Minnesota. After many phone calls and persistence, I was asked to discuss an internship position in their in-progress internship program.

At Free Spirit I work with book manuscripts and collaborate with other departments within the company to complete small tasks essential to publishing a book. This internship has been extremely multi-faceted and informational. Before beginning my stint, I aimed firstly to see if publishing was what I hoped to pursue; and secondly, to understand the publishing process and the breadth of duties that editorial work requires. As my internship comes to a close, I am sure that I have achieved these goals and gained invaluable work experience.

After attending graduate school and obtaining my Ph.D., I hope to either teach or help manage an academic press or journal. This step–interning at Free Spirit–is a small, but crucial motion towards achieving my academic and career goals. My internship was made possible through funding by the CLA Internship Scholarship, something that I encourage all MLK students to apply for, as it provided essential financial support during my stint, as well as activities that helped intellectually and personally enhance my experience. Internships are a crucial point in the transition from school to work, and I encourage everyone to find and pursue them, even if you’re unsure of the field. They provide valuable work experience that will make you a competitive candidate for the work force, as well as enrich you with experiences that cannot be found in the classroom.

The deadline for the fall 2013 CLA Internship Scholarship is on Wednesday, September 25. For more details and to apply, click here.

MLK Spotlight - Alejandro: Summer Dental Program

This post is part of the MLK Spotlight, a regular feature on our blog. The goal is to highlight MLK student (or staff) stories, experiences, and perspectives. Have something you'd like to share? Send an email to mlkdesk@umn.edu, or ask your adviser!

As part of the Summer Dental Program, students have the opportunity to do research and present their findings. Alejandro, along with is research partner, presented on Educating Low-Income Children on the Importance of Oral Health.

My name is Alejandro Cisneros. I am currently a rising junior at the University of Minnesota. Being in the College of Liberal Arts, and more specifically the Martin Luther King Jr. program, I have been presented with many opportunities to develop as a student. My major in psychology was chosen because I hope to learn more about myself so that I can grow as a person and learn more about my peers to help understand them. I have competed at the Big Ten Championships on the University of Minnesota's Swim and Dive team for two years.

I chose to apply for the Summer Dental Program because I have had the dream of becoming a dentist for over five years. This program offered a five-week exposure to the field of dentistry and opportunities to immerse myself in it.

Through the program we were educated about health disparities. Learning about the differences in care throughout Minnesota alone was very overwhelming. I also gained valuable experiences in the advanced simulation lab. Being able to pick up a hand piece and actually work in a mannequin's fake jaw was exhilarating. Using the actual tools helped inspire me to keep pursuing my goal.

If I were to give advice to anyone looking for programs like this or even this specific program, I would say to try. Initially, I was not going to sign up because I was worried that I wasn't going to meet some of the qualifications they were looking for. But even though I didn't meet all of the suggested qualifications, they still accepted me. After talking with other students in the program, I learned that there were many other students in my situation that felt they were not going to get accepted but ended up being admitted. You will not be accepted into something you do not try to apply for, so it does not hurt to try.

MLK Spotlight - Gabriela: Welcome to our newest adviser!

This post is part of the MLK Spotlight, a regular feature on our blog. The goal is to highlight MLK student (or staff) stories, experiences, and perspectives. Have something you'd like to share? Send an email to mlkdesk@umn.edu, or ask your adviser! 

Gabriela grew up in Nipomo, California, a small historic rural town in California's central coast. She has a B.A. in Political Science and Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity from Stanford University, and an M.A. in Comparative Ethnic Studies from U.C. Berkeley. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Comparative Ethnic Studies at U.C. Berkeley. Before joining the Martin Luther King, Jr. Program, she taught in the Department of Ethnic Studies at U.C. Berkeley and in the Department of Social and Cultural Sciences at Marquette University. Gabriela's advising style focuses on empowering students with knowledge about university resources while personalizing the advising experience to each student' unique talents and needs.

Gabriela enjoys exploring Minnesota's numerous lakes with her husband, Chester, and their shih-tzhu, Britney (Spears). She also enjoys cooking, watching documentary crime shows, writing poetry, spending time with her cat, and traveling to California to visit with her parents and siblings.

MLK Spotlight - Alisha: Reflecting on learning abroad in South Africa

Alisha is a senior majoring in Journalism with a minor in Leadership. This past May, she studied abroad in South Africa. She reflects on her experience in the essay below. 

When people ask me about my study abroad experience, I start off by telling the story of the climax of my trip. It occurred on a bridge near the highway. We took a break from the various activities of the day. Climbing out of the van that we spent far too much time in for my taste, we began to blindly follow our guide. We cautiously made our way up the street drawing stares from the people around us. A group of eleven Americans making their way through the township of Guguletu was not a common sight, so we had gotten used to the attention. Finally, as we made way to our destination, the purpose of our trek had become clear. Looking down from the bridge, there lay the most profound example of the juxtaposition that I had been trying to wrap my head around for the past couple weeks. To the left there were homes in a neighborhood not unlike one that could be found in the United States. Many of the homes were equipped with satellite dishes and all were guarded by high gates. Without even needing to move, you could glance over to the right to see the thousands of shacks constructed so close to each other that you could barely tell where one ended and the other began. To this day I still don’t remember what our guide was telling us, as I was too caught up in my own thoughts to give much attention to anything but the scene set before me. 

MLK Spotlight - Carolina: Making the most of an internship

This post is part of the MLK Spotlight, a regular feature on our blog. The goal is to highlight MLK student (or staff) stories, experiences, and perspectives. Have something you'd like to share? Send an email to mlkdesk@umn.edu, or ask your adviser!

Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, I have lived in the United States since the age of nine, allowing me to speak both English and Spanish fluently. Currently I am a senior at the University of Minnesota's College of Liberal Arts where I am double majoring in Global Studies and Political Science. I am also pursuing a minor in management at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. When not working or studying, I enjoy planning events for my family and friends. I love meeting new people and working in teams, and last summer when I interned for Kohl's Department store I got to do just that.

I had never thought about a career in retail, to be honest I thought store managers didn't even require a college degree and definitely did not have a high enough salary to attract people that had one. I was completely wrong. As a store management intern I got the opportunity to gain real leadership experience and was a part of the store's management team from day one. No one at Kohl's ever expected me to go on coffee runs, instead I was treated like an equal and expected to help lead the store. Kohl's gave me the opportunity to interview, hire, train, and lead store associates all while learning the difference components of running a business. What I really loved about the internship was how much responsibility and trust is awarded to you, I was expected to create and implement a project to improve some aspect (sales, people, credit, customer service, etc.) in my store, I chose to work on employee retention and at the end of my internship presented my project to regional and district managers! My internship went so well that Kohl's offered me a full time position after I graduate. I now know that a career in retail, especially one at Kohl's, is for anyone that loves working with people, enjoys an exciting work environment that is never the same two days in a row, and that likes to be challenged.

MLK Spotlight - Brooke: Looking back on a semester abroad in Buenos Aires

Brooke is a junior in the MLK Program, majoring in Political Science. This fall she is studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. As she wraps up the semester, she shared with us a few pictures and looks back on her experience so far. This post is part of the MLK Spotlight, a regular feature on our blog. The goal is to highlight MLK student (or staff) stories, experiences, and perspectives. Have something you'd like to share? Send an email to mlkdesk@umn.edu, or ask your adviser!

"So why did you choose Argentina?" Sitting opposite my host mother, Maria, in her antique-adorned apartment for the first time, this question seemed nearly impossible to answer. Had I really just spent an entire semester filing out countless study abroad applications, returning email after email, and attending numerous meetings without once taking the time to ask myself why? Staring back at Maria, unable to formulate any reason, it had appeared so.

Prior to coming to Buenos Aires, I had virtually no idea of what I was getting myself into. Despite the fact that I'd studied all of the informational emails, done my fair share of browsing the Internet, and even read a variety of travel blogs, I arrived to Buenos Aires on a cold Saturday morning with no inkling of what I'd be walking away with three months later. Now as I am rapidly approaching my last weeks in the city I've come to call home, I am rushing to do, see, taste, and feel everything before it is time to board my flight back to the U.S.

MLK Spotlight - Xiaolu: Creating art and telling stories through HECUA

Xiaolu is a junior majoring in Studies in Cinema and Media Culture. Last year, she was part of the HECUA City Arts Program (now known as Art for Social Change), which explores the role of artists in the social change movement and the engagement of art in our communities. She is interested in editing short videos and making promo videos for different organizations, and she recently found her passion in animation which expands the magic of film for her. Read about Xiaolu's experience with HECUA below, and check out the videos she created as part of her program. This post is part of the MLK Spotlight, a regular feature on our blog. The goal is to highlight MLK student (or staff) stories, experiences, and perspectives. Have something you'd like to share? Send an email to mlkdesk@umn.edu, or ask your adviser!

Often times, I doubt my ability to make films and to become an artist that tells inspiring stories. On a daily basis, I struggle to find the connection between my college education and the real world. But HECUA made all of it work. A small-seminar style class created an incredible support that each of us needed, and through the four months of engaging, creating and critiquing what we learned, I walked away from the experience with more humbleness for learning. Everyone is a teacher and everyone is a learner in the HECUA community, the perspectives we trade push us to be tolerant of each other's differences, but intolerant of social injustice. I don't necessarily think that I created 'better' art during HECUA, but I really appreciate the fact that I had time to make art, thus living a expressive life. It is the 'art of making' rejuvenates my energy to explore what is it that I want out of my education.