Orange Coast College's Counseling Latinos for Engagement and Equity (CLEEO) project will celebrate its 10th anniversary by welcoming Chicana speaker Helena Maria Viramontes to kick-off the CLEEO Summit 20.0 series. The event will be from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, in the CLEEO Project Center, GEC 109.
The CLEEO Project Summit 20.0 will host speaker Helena Maria Viramontes, a distinguished professor of arts and sciences in English at Cornell University, to present her lecture titled "The Identity of Literature: Why I Write."
Viramontes is a professor, activist and Chicana writer originally from East Los Angeles. Her work is influenced by the Chicano Movement and explores women's struggle within their culture, society and religion. She believes literature can affect social change related to racism, classism and sexism. She aims to empower her characters by giving them a voice. Viramontes is the co-founder of the Southern California Latino Writers and Film Makers Association.
The CLEEO Project promotes Latin@s' access and success in higher education in an equitable and culturally supportive context. Its focus is cultural competency and developing educational pathways toward attainment of associate's, bachelor's, and professional or postgraduate degrees.
What: CLEEO Summit 20.0: Helena Maria Viramontes, "The Identity of Literature: Why I Write"
When: Tuesday, April 7, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Where: OCC CLEEO Project Center | 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa
