Category Archives: News

2018 NACC Scholar: Dr. Rosaura Sanchez, “una de las grandes”

Rosaura Sánchez, “una de las grandes”
University of California, San Diego

With unanimous excitement the NACCS Board announces Dr. Rosaura Sánchez as NACCS Scholars 2018 and forever after.  Hers is a tale of commitment, tenacity, and perseverance that provides a context for the labor of NACCS.

Dr. Sánchez began her educational pursuits in 1959 attending the UT at Austin, where she earned a B.A. in Spanish (with a minor in English) in 1963.  Following her BA she entered the Peace Corps where she served as an ESL and Literacy Instructor in Ecuador from 1964-1966.  Among her professional experiences early in her career, Dr. Sanchez served as a Language Instructor in the Peace Corps Summer Training Programs and Teacher Corps at USC Rural Migrant 1967-1970, and 1969-1971 respectively. In 1969 she completed an MA in Spanish and in 1974 a PhD in Romance Linguistics also at the UT at Austin.  Her dissertation entitled:  A Generative Study of Two Spanish Dialects.

According to Dr. Mary Pardo, Sánchez’ “impressive record of contributions, including scholarly work, academic preparation of new scholars…, political stances against injustice, and creative writing represent a life achievement…What is most impressive to me is the consistent rigor of her arguments and ability to engage in contemporary political reflections….my most respected colleagues in Chicana/o Studies at CSUN, include Alicia Ivonne Estrada, PhD., who Sánchez mentored when she was an undergraduate student…Sánchez’ life achievements embody NACCS central mission-a lifetime of critical inquiry regarding the Chicana/o/Mexican/ experience and engagement in contemporary political debates.

Also students of Sanchez were: Dr. Clara Lomas, Dr. Rosalinda Fregoso, and Dr. Lauro Flores.  Dr. Flores stated:  “I met Prof. Sánchez in 1971, when she had just arrived in San Diego, and I was an undergraduate student…Since then, she has been more than just an exemplary scholarly and a teacher, she has been a mentor for several cohorts of students who have moved on to become important figures in the field of Chicana/o Studies, and essential contributions to the development of various areas in the field.  In addition to her work as an advocate for her students, Professor Sanchez’ scholarship has also opened many doors for younger researchers …she has been a true trailblazer in Chicana/o Studies and many related fields:  Critical Theory; Cultural Studies, Third World Studies, and Gender studies.”

Lastly, Dr. Chabram, stated:  “In my opinion Prof. Sánchez is one of the leading critical Chicana thinkers of our times…At a time in which mainstream scholars were taken aback by the multiple particularities of el lenguaje de los Chicanos, Sánchez  delivered a foundational work that documented the longstanding social, cultural and contextual domains of Chicano discourse…she possesses the kind of intelligence, dedication, and yes, dignity, that is rare in academia.  For me she exemplifies what a NACCS Scholars should be and can be.”

Nominated by the N. CA Foco and received support from former students, Dr. Lomas (Colorado College), Dr. Flores (U of Washington),  Dr. Fregoso (UC Santa Cruz) and a colleague from the S. CA Foco, Dr. Pardo (CSU Northridge).

Spring 2018 – Vol. 42 No. 2

Dr. Marisa Elena Duarte Receives Antonia I Castañeda Award

Antonia I Castañeda Award Committee Congratulates Dr. Marisa Elena Duarte

The Antonia I Castañeda Award Committee is pleased to announce that “Uneven Exchanges: Borderlands Violence and the Search for Peace at Sand Creek,” by Marisa Elena Duarte, has been selected for the 2018 Castañeda Award. Dr. Duarte’s article analyzed two university studies (Northwestern University and Denver University) regarding the culpability of John Evans in the Sand Creek massacre of Cheyenne and Arapaho men, women and children. Applying theories of subversive lucidity developed by José Medina(2013), and an Indigenous feminist lens to the massacre and its multiple legacies—including the two university studies—Duarte exposed the habits of the mind that made possible the massacre and the settler violence that continues to date. Equally important, she mapped the habits of the mind necessary to respond to legacies of violence and injustice. As historians, Duarte argues, we must turn away from individualistic questions such as “Was John Evans culpable?” and instead ask “What was the nature of the social fabric that compelled Evans to treat Cheyenne and Arapaho women as he did?” and “What are the legacies of Evan’s treatment of women for contemporary Cheyenne and Arapaho women?” It is questions such as these, Duarte argues, that create a truly usable past, and “allows Cheyenne and Arapaho testimony.”

Dr. Marisa Elena Duarte is an assistant professor in the School of Social Transformation at Arizona State University where she teaches courses in Critical Indigenous Research Methodologies, Digital Activism, and Cross-Cultural Leadership. Dr. Duarte is also author of Network Sovereignty: Building the Internet Across Indian Country (University of Washington, 2017). “Uneven Exchanges: Borderlands Violence and the Search for Peace at Sand Creek,” was published in Chicana Latina Studies 16. No. 1.

Spring 2018 – Vol. 42 No. 2

Mid-Year Minutes 2017

Midyear Minutes. (Not approved) Abridged for publication.
Friday, October 27, 2017- Saturday, Oct 28, 2017
Location: Doubletree Hotel, Minneapolis, MN

Present: Kathy Blackmer-Reyes, Julia Curry-Rodriguez, Linda Heidenreich, Maria Gonzalez, Chalane Lechuga, Jennie Luna, V. June Pedraza, Aureliano De Soto. Absent: Cecilia Aragon and Brenda Valle

I. Welcome

III. Reports

Chair
Discussion: Reporting to the membership in regards to recent board changes:
There have been many changes to our board; how do we address this to our membership?
June will draft this notice for the next Noticias.

Chair Elect
Conference Program: In process
Call for papers went out; submissions are starting to come in; Aureliano went over a to-do list with Kathy which was very helpful; there were 25 people asked to be readers, 14 have responded positively.

Nov. 8th is the deadline (Wednesday). There was one critique about the use of the X (Chicanx). But feedback has been positive about the theme, aside from a few minor critiques. Overall, theme is encouraging more people to want to come to the conference.

Questions On Conference Structure to the board:
Leadership Listening session: Board is not present at the conference and are usually locked in a conference room, which leads to our invisibility and critiques from members.

Proposed the idea of having a board listening session during the conference
He also proposed having the chair address the membership, having a time built into the program moving forward. This will not only be a “Chairs Address” but also “a state of the field; where are we going as an interdisciplinary field, etc.

The board reviewed, gave suggestions and helped revise the conference schedule.

We agreed on changes to the schedule. AD will edit and send us the final draft of the revised schedule.

Reform Resolution Process: Aureliano proposed that we establish a new way of submitting resolutions. Currently, it is a poor use of time at the conference; because our bylaws have been suspended, we need to communicate with membership the changes moving forward. We will establish that focos and caucuses need to write and submit their resoultions before the conference. Board Consensus that Aureliano, Julia, and Kathy will work on a new resolution process that will be completed and sent the membership before the end of the year.

Also, we should think about how we can vote for board positions more effectively; perhaps we can schedule the election during the conference electronically. By moving the election/voting during the dates of the conference, we might get more participation/engagement.

Executive Director
Report on ongoing projects: Incorporation, Communications with xCatalyst and Paypal
We are now incorporated with official standing!
xCatalyst and Paypal: Julia was able to recover $1,584 from fraud issues.

Site visits: we ended up at good place. Julia negotiated well for the price of the rooms. Reductions were made on food & beverage, AV etc. We spend $35,000 but get additional 10% for the same price.

Written report of completed work since end of conference: Julia has already submitted some written reports and regularly communicates in writing via email to the board, but will submit an official report.

Invoice for work: Submited invoice to the board for the work completed.
Chalane will review what expenses need to be covered.

Minneapolis Site Visit: St. Paul visitors bureau covered ED airline ticket; hotel stays were comped.

At Denver conference, former board member made a resolution that executive director would get the expenses covered for travel, lodging and per diem for both site inspection and midyear. Since that resolution was approved by the board, none of the site inspection expenses, nor midyear should be out of pocket; they need to be covered/reimbursed.

Travel and work for midyear and site inspection are separate from the overall labor.

For several years, ED and AD were paying for their own midyear, while none of the board had to, this is why former board member made the resolution to pay for travel, lodging and per diem for site inspection and midyear. Consulting work continues, but has to be re-negotiated at some point.

Associate Director
2017 proceedings: none were received.

For 2017, Josh will be editor to continue with the proceedings. There will be a notice sent to remind people if they are interested to submit. For future, we need to be proactive for the proceedings and set a precedent that the chair-elect follow up to encourage submissions. Chair-elect should do outreach prior to conference to remind people to consider submitting. Motivate presenters to have their papers prepared.

Book award: Both 2016 and 2017 were submitted, therefore we had a huge submission. But since there are so many books, this year we will only deal with 2016, and next year only 2017.

Exhibitor registration is up for signing up. Since internet security is tight, it has been difficult for them to register, so this makes it more work for us because they are now going to have to submit invoices; but at the same time, we don’t want a repeat of fraud.
There were lots of job ads this year; which are $750 for 45 days, on both web page and facebook and integrated into the newsletter. We have made negotiations with people regarding ads. In total, we made $4,500 off web ads..

Hotel registration is ready for booking hotel. Conference registration should be up soon. People want to know registration for budgets. We will discuss recommendation for this year.

Listserve/Domain issues: Dream Host is our domain host. Discussion groups cost ~$2/month, but we have had a lot of issues such as hacking (within the Dream Host server) and moving of discussion groups to another server. We have had communication issues for the last several months.

Newsletter and Facebook: Carlos Guerrero provided a report/analytics which included number of hits, demographics, etc., so we can consider how we can build our newsletter. We had low results. Newsletter is only thing we produce outside of the conference.

Managing listserves: AD is hands- off of caucus listserves, they have ability to manage their own lists; AD can help them, she can subscribe them; Focos on the other hand, are overseen completely by AD because it is based on membership dues paid. AD manages this; you can only be on foco listserve if you have paid your membership. Caucus listserves are different. They do not want to remove people from listserves, so there are people that are not members, for example. Kathy needs to communicate the system to update listserves for caucuses; this information can be distributed by the At-large reps. They should let their focos/caucuses know how listserves are managed. But if needed, the caucus chairs can give AD a roster of emails from the attendance at their meetings and she will take care of updating, otherwise, each caucus can totally manage it themselves. We need to add this to the guidelines for new leadership: let them kow how to updates listserve, passwords, etc.

In terms of facebook pages or other social media, guidelines have never been created; there has been no time to deal with policies in social media; but there is the question about how caucuses develop facebook and their record, and how to archive info.

We are doing well with our open access site. Grad papers are popular; we get good hits, for example, Los Tigres del Norte paper and Dolores Delgado Bernal, Education paper submitted. Even though our proceedings are not recognized through google, (we have minimal meta data and the only way people are locating articles is through very limited terms) we still have good stats. Kathy will work on increasing our findings even more through our open access. The Board would like to also create a page/tab on our website for leadership training online, as well as post the updated officer’s handbook, once completed.

Secretary:
Officers handbook needs to be revised and re-developed; spoke to fomer NACCS Chair; will have a working draft for the board by next conference call.
She submitted report to noticias; a condensed version of our minutes/highlights.

At Large Reps:

Linda Heidenreich – Midwest Foco: she has communicated with them
Pacific Northwest Foco: had a conference.
Tejas Foco: Tx had a foco conference of 300 people in attendance; 2018 foco conference will be at TX Lutheran;
LBTM Caucus, Joto Caucus, and Chicana Caucus, working on a three pronged approach: dialogue amongst all of them; last year Indigenous & Joto caucuses were organizing/requesting more visibility on plenary; trying to negotiate some type of rotating plenary with Chicana caucus. Linda has been taking lead of this organizing. Caucuses came up with a three tiered approach & other ideas.

Caucuses agree to:
Draft resolution bylaw to change opening plenary
Develop/institutionalize different tracks; this has been done with the submission process. Caucuses still have to put it together; responsibility of caucus chairs to get the information out there.  Chicana caucus ensures to having queer presence & have Indigenous representation on plenary

Discussion: Caucuses are requesting by-law changes for plenary and voices of more inclusivity. Requesting the possibility of NACCS 101 to have a section of how to put forward a resolution. Every foco is supposed to have a representative from a caucus; they should be learning this at home with focos; perhaps foco reps need training. Need to re-think the foco; representation is not happening in the foco; focos are supposed to be the grassroots body of organization, now caucuses are doing the organizing. Impulse to change should be within the organizing of the grassroots body. How do we get more people engaged/discussions? “How do we transform so we are still whole when we transform” and still give respect to the founders/board etc. Linda will send to us a workshop to share: “How to put together a kick-ass panel”

Maria Gonzalez – communicated with folks late Sept/Oct. She let Linda take over Indigenous caucus. She sent an email introducing self, no response. Sent an email about midyear meeting needing reports. Southern California Foco: reports that they have nothing to report; Alex Reyes not sure if will be on the call; Northern California Foco: Frank Ortega said he would send report, has not done so yet, but hopes to be on call tomorrow; Tejas Foco: Leo Trevino no longer Rep. and Felipe Hinojosa is now the rep. Indigenous Caucus, COMPAS Caucus: no reports from them and Student Caucus: no rep; Colorado Foco Debora Ortega, no feedback.

Poster board presentations: Maria sent sample new guidelines to Kathy to consider. Perhaps presenter charged for the supplies, but we are still held responsible for supplies. Big challenge is the labor intensive of poster presentations.

Brenda Valles – Rocky Mountain Foco, East Coast Foco, Mexico Foco, K-12 Caucus, Graduate Student Caucus, and Community Caucus: not present and did not send in report.

VI. Review of Nominations for NACCS Scholar
Two nominations were received: Both distinguished scholars. Through secret ballot voting process:

Board votes yes to approve the nomination of Rosaura Sanchez as 2018 lifetime achievement award for NACCS;

NACCS Chair made call to Rosaura Sanchez.

VII. Discussion of 2018 Conference

Conference Swag: Aureliano

Chair Address discussion:
Kathy prepared schedules to review, plenaries shortened; student plenary shorted to 50 min.
Chair Address goes first before the break; Thurs. 3:30-4:15; short talk/questions and socializing; with light refreshments; At this address it was suggested that we set up questions; small group discussions etc. post-its for public comments to address concerns; need of consultant.

Friday schedule: leadership orientation at 7:30 am; let’s find a different place for it and suggest that we have caucus meetings happen in the morning rather than afternoon. So we can have reception/dinner and cultural night; move 2nd session of leadership orientation to Thurs.

Leadership meeting on Thurs. 11:50-12:50pm

X. Conference Call with Focos and Caucus reps
Agenda Conference Call:
-Introductions:Chicana caucus co-chairs present: Isabel Millan, Yvette Saavedra; Felipe Hinojosa (TJ foco); and Theresa Torres (Midwest foco rep)

1. Give them an update on spending their rebates. Deadlines, by Dec. 31—spend or submit a memo of their plan to spend money; need to take a vote… documentation of that vote in the way that the caucus decides.

2. Review numbers of membership and express need to increasing numbers in some caucuses/remind foco and caucus reps to communicate with their members about registering and paying foco/caucus dues. Reach out to at large rep if your caucus is not maintaining that 30 member number requirement.

3. Leadership meeting: give them date and remind them that they have to be present THURS 11:50 April 5th; keep an eye out for an email reminder from treasurer and a google rsvp link.

4. Explain the new submission process for proposals: in addition to regular submission process we have new forms for foco or caucus sponsored panels. Created new forms where drop down menu available in the form. Take a look at regular submission for the new forms.

XI. Treasurer (see Treasurer report for updated information)

Treasurer sent additional detailed documents to board regarding report.

Assets and Liabilities Report for FY 2016-17


Report sent, as of Oct 26th, we have $57,206.36 in checking account. We don’t have a final version of fiscal year 16-17 yet. Difficulty to complete the report because of the various accounts/systems we are working with. Membership dues 99% come through credit card; some come through checks and some bounce. Make a decision that we don’t take personal checks…only credit or cash. Bounced checks create a nightmare. Contacting people and getting people to pay fee difficult.

Moved by Chalane and seconded by Maria that we no longer accept personal checks; Motion passes.

Income we are tracking: credit card job/web ads donations….we have verified the income to be $97,1927 from the Irvine conference. In 2016 we made $92,812, in line with what we typically bring in income. Divided expenses are in 2 categories: operating and conference. $86,669 cost of conference; generated $11,000 income. Mostly generated from exhibits. We generate rooms by the number of rooms we sell. Those rooms are used for childcare and student Beca nominees. AV is the second most expensive costs for the conference. And now we usually have to have AV in all presentation rooms. Chalane suggested that we should wait to raise registration fees until the following year.

Registration income pays for the conference; if it doesn’t meet $86,000, we need to figure out if conference fees did not pay all conference expenses in CA…need to break down cost per person and see if it’s proportional; people who pay more subsidize people who pay less. We don’t want across the board increase…just proportional increase in registration. We made more in registration for last year because onsite registration was very high. Also we had $5 rebates from room block (earning ~$2,500); we don’t have that this year. Need to analyze how many pay on site, non-members, etc.

We have same amount for food and beverage $43,000, AV $27,000. Denver paid for itself.

Irvine was going to be expense, but made it very expensive to register onsite. Need to look at our numbers.

If everyone paid registration, we would see a huge difference, 30% don’t pay! Membership dues don’t cover operating costs: We bring in $37,000 in membership dues and operation is $67,000. We can’t maintain this…only able to pay down debt because of carry-over. We are not making a profit, org is only barely sustaining itself. Increase $5 more on the registration. We raised the dues last year. Conference registration will be a nest egg. They have increased the exhibitors, $900 per table…we have increased it dramatically and we might be at our peak. Need to massage the relations we have. Jamie is paid $1000 for her work at the registration; takes vacation time to do this. Only started paying child care providers and they must be certified. Students paying $125 are getting subsidized with $61. Their actual cost is $189. Motion was made to raise student registration by $5 and people who are below $186 bring them up by $10.

Motion passed and Board voted to make these increases (AD and Treasurer will working on the exact increases to be posted)

Antonia Castaneda Report for FY 2016-17
Fund is now $26,254.10 current; ideally could produce a report quarterly. Which means it has recovered and the $500 prize can come out of the endowment. It is only 2 years old and rate of return is not as high because we are part of a socially responsible investor; 4%. Account would be invested into the fund to get it back to 25,000; give $500 in 2017 from the funds. Donations can go directly into the Castaneda fund, not into NACCS account to help generate interest. If people are interested in donating, contact Julia for now…but if want to be a donor, it can be in the form/donor web page.

Update on Debt Resolution from NACCS 2017 Board Meeting
NACCS is committed to paying the labor and going forward we need to reevaluate our ED and AD expenses. Our debt will increase if we don’t resolve the amount NACCS pays… how people are compensated. Linda will research look at specific academic organization to get an idea of how other similar orgs pay their ED/AD
We have guaranteed to pay back over 5 years what (previous board) agreed, but we need to figure out the amount going forward. AD: invoiced $20,000 in projects; ED invoiced $16,000 in projects. We need to seriously work on fundraising.

Ideas: -Can we have a silent auction at NACCS? Institutional memberships and what are the incentives? ($250). Chairs contacting the NACCS scholars and lifetime members. Monthly expenses are not bad…but when we have annual fees ie, xcatalyst ($6000~ etc). Our proposed operating budget includes expenses we know and what we anticipate and given that, we need to think realistically about what we can pay ED/AD. We try to keep $30,000 in the bank, but it would be okay if we carry $15000, less…to pay off our debt. We need our foco reps and caucus chairs to pay their memberships!!! We can encourage Institutions to buy memberships. It was suggested we have an adhoc committee that can build NACCS and make it economically sustainable, and not solely on our ED/AD shoulders. We can only afford 50% of what we owe. NACCS does not have money to pay them.

Membership Report (1/1/2017-10/20/2017)
Caucuses & numbers: all supposed to be at 30 in order to exist.At large reps lead the efforts to communicate to their constituents about their numbers and the total of their members and remind chairs to remind their constituents to pay their fees. Joto now at 13; Student 18. Some numbers are low and we need to find ways to support them. Issues discovered with number of Indigenous caucus members which were inaccurate. Need to re-evaluate the process of the budget deadlines for focos/caucuses. Labor caucus will complete their formation period at conference 2018; we need their rosters, demonstrate they have 30 individuals registered for 2 years. And we can add them to the list to pay their dues now and we need to add to the at-large representative…makes logical sense to give it to a rep that works on compas. Maria will take them on and will get contact info from AD.

Our membership: Last year 548. This year 2017, 537 members, 51% female. Student membership is the core of the membership/undergrads/grads. Need to track budgets of each caucus/foco and provide a report. Foco rebates: a fund/not separate account. Don’t eliminate foco rebates, but instead create a fund focos can apply to…many Focos don’t spend funds. We could create a fund for rolling application. This will allow Focos who don’t generate funds to apply for more…allow small Focos or special projects to be funded. Foco development fund…they can apply for up to $200 to develop their foco to help support a foco meeting. The only Foco that utilized this funding was the east coast under Michael Hames Garcia; Foco went up from 2 to 17 members. There would have to be deliverables, like a grant.

Last fiscal year only Indigenous and Joto caucuses spent funds; the Chicana, Grad and LBMT funds went to their receptions, but as of now, no one has spent. Rethink foco rebates because most go unspent and the labor involved in processing those payments is intensive. June, Aureliano & Chalane will continue the adhoc NACCS financial health committee.

XI. Vetting Discussion
Discuss process and develop plan of action for identifying potential candidates for vacant positions to be filled in 2018
Look at grid of regional and caucus representing on board and see out missing areas
Everyone should come back with a list of potential nominations.

Open positions:
At Large Rep (Brenda); At Large Rep (Maria) she will run again; Secretary; Chair Elect; treasurer elect(?)

We need to consider regional representation:
Pacific NW represented (Linda); TX rep (June- is she going to continue?); Midwest (Aureliano); Colorado (Chalane). Don’t have: norCA; soCA; East Coast; Rocky Mountain

Spring 2018 – Vol. 42 No. 2

NACCS 45: Awards

NACCS Scholar
Rosaura Sánchez. University of California, San Diego.

Book Award
Ylce Irizarry. Chicana/o and Latina/o Fiction: The New Memory of Latinidad. University of Illinois Press, 2016.

Antonia I. Castañeda Prize
Dr. Marisa Elena Duarte is an assistant professor in the School of Social Transformation at Arizona State University where she teaches courses in Critical Indigenous Research Methodologies, Digital Activism, and Cross-Cultural Leadership.  Dr. Duarte is also author of Network Sovereignty: Building the Internet Across Indian Country (University of Washington, 2017).  “Uneven Exchanges: Borderlands Violence and the Search for Peace at Sand Creek,” was published in Chicana Latina Studies 16. No. 1.

Frederick A. Cervantes Student Premio Recipients
Santos F. Ramos. Michigan State University. Graduate. “Community-Making through Pedagogy, Relationality and Mexican Cooking.”

Community Recognition

Ramona Arreguin is a well-known and respected community leader in Minnesota.  She has tirelessly dedicated over 45 years advocating for the Chicano/Latino community. Her work to establish numerous local organizations has provided countless opportunities for the Latino population.  Some of these organizations include: University of MN Department of Chicano Studies, Latin Liberation Front (Student Organization at the U of MN), Centro Cultural Chicano, La Clinica, Migrants in Action, Hispanic Pre College Program at the University of St. Thomas, and Academia Cesar Chavez. Ramona has been politically active both locally and nationally.  She has worked on critical Latino community issues such as migrants and collaborated with MN Representative Carlos Mariani to shape the MN “Learning for English Academic Proficiency and Success”  (LEAPS) Act.  She worked with Former First Lady Hillary Clinton on a White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. She has crafted strong ties with the Mexican government in MN.  She is recognized both nationally and internationally for her work and contributions in the Chicano/Latino and is frequently sought out for consultation.

UNIDOS MN, formerly Navigate MN, is a grassroots organization that builds power with the Latinx community in Minnesota. Our theory of change centers the reality of undocumented and mixed status families in our search for immigration, health, and education justice. Our work is centered on people power, civic engagement and leadership development.  We envision an empowered and healthy Minnesotano community that is part of the solution to create a prosperous Minnesota for all, regardless of race, class, gender and immigration status. Through the 10 years of work, Navigate/Unidos MN has been led by undocumented/DACAmented, and queer Latinxs providing an intersectional and strategic reality of authenticity and accountable to the population we build solutions with. Born out of the DREAMer movement, Unidos MN seeks to strategically prioritize these gaps of access through community organizing for system change. While these issues seem broad, Navigate has develop municipal, state and national strategies to make sure paths towards prosperity are being built from different angles and has built the ability to adapt to different political terrains. We have led and won local campaigns for tuition equity that are now policies in private and state colleges. Additionally, we have been a key leader making sure pro-immigrant, pro-education and anti-poverty initiatives like the MN Dream Act and MNSure Access for DACA holders were passed and implemented. We are also key Minnesota players in the national arena for DACA, Immigration Reform Efforts and the DREAM Act.

Spring 2018 – Vol. 42 No. 2

NACCS 45: Conference Plenaries

Thematic Plenary, Thursday 4/5:

NACCS and the Future of Chicana/o/x Studies

Nancy Acevedo-Gil. California State University, San Bernardino

Mari Castañeda. University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Lorenzo Herrera y Lozano. Kórima Press.

Sandra K. Soto. University of Arizona

Moderator: Aureliano M. DeSoto, NACCS Chair, 2018-2019

 

Student Plenary, Friday 4/6:

Santos F. Ramos. Michigan State University. Graduate. “Community-Making through Pedagogy, Relationality and Mexican Cooking.”

Moderator: Aureliano DeSoto, NACCS Chair, 2018-2019.

 

Chicana Plenary, Saturday 4/7

:

Reclaiming Power: Centering Queer Chicana Indígena Resistance and Histories

Susy Zepeda, University of California Davis

Gabriela Spears-Rico, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Osa Hidalgo de la Riva, Filmmaker and Lecturer.

Moderators: Isabel Millán and Yvette J. Saavedra, Chicana Caucus Co-Chairs

 

Spring 2018 – Vol. 42 No. 2

NACCS 45: Conference Schedule

Conference Overview

April 4-7, 2018

Schedule Subject to Change

New Schedule. Please review as items/events have changed days and times.

Wednesday, April 4, 2018
3:30 p.m.   –  7:00  p.m.   Registration
5:00 p.m.   –  6:30  p.m.   NACCS for Beginners
6:01 p.m. 1968 Dr. King was struck by a single bullet in Memphis, TN. An hour later he was declared dead.  50 year ago today.
7:30 p.m.   –  9:00  p.m.   Welcome Reception

Note: 50th Anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  On April 4th at 6:01 p.m. in Memphis, TN, Dr. King was shot.  We mark this important passing to honor the man for the work that he inspired and the awareness he brought to this nation. Join us, where ever you might be for a moment of silence.

Thursday, April 5, 2018
8:00 a.m.  –   5:00 p.m.   Registration
9:30 a.m.  –   6:00 p.m.   Exhibits
8:40 a.m.  –   9:50 a.m.   Session One & NACCS for Beginners
10:00 a.m.  –  10:10 a.m.  Blessing
10:10 a.m.  –  11:40 a.m.  Plenary I: NACCS Plenary
11:40 a.m.  – 12:50 p.m.   Lunch Break (on your own)
11:40 a.m.  – 12:50 p.m.   Leadership Orientation Meeting (Foco Reps and Caucus Chairs)
1:00 p.m.  –   2:10 p.m.  Session Two
2:20 p.m.  –   3:30 p.m.  Session Three
3:30 p.m.  –   4:00 p.m.  Break
4:00 p.m.  –   4:50 p.m.  NACCS Chair Address  
5:00 p.m.  –   6:00 p.m.  Foco Meetings 1
6:10 p.m.  –   7:10 p.m.  Caucus Meetings I
(Chicana, COMPAS, Grad Students, Joto, Labor)
7:20 p.m.   –  8:20  p.m.   Caucus Meetings II
(LBMT, Community, K-12, Student, Indigenous)
8:30 p.m.   –  9:30  p.m.   Grad Student Reception
9:00 p.m.   –  11:00 p.m.  Joteria Gathering

Friday,  April 6, 2018
8:00 a.m.   –  8:50  a.m.     Caucus Meetings III
(LBMT, Community, K-12, Student, Indigenous)
8:30 a.m.   –  5:00  p.m.     Registration
9:00 a.m.   –  10:10 a.m.    Session Four
9:00 a.m.   –   5:30 p.m.     Exhibits
10:20 a.m.  –  11:10 a.m.   Plenary II: Student Plenary  
11:20 a.m.  –  12:30  p.m.  Session Five
12:30 p.m.  –  1:40  p.m.    Lunch (on your own)
1:50 p.m.   –  3:00  p.m.     Session Six
2:30 p.m.   –  3:30  p.m.     Poster Board
3:10 p.m.   –  4:20  p.m.     Session Seven
4:30 p.m.   –  5:20  p.m.    Caucus Meetings IV
(Chicana, COMPAS, Grad Students, Joto, Labor)
6:00 p.m.   –  8:00  p.m.    Awards Dinner
8:30 p.m.   –  10:30  p.m.  Noche de Cultura

Saturday,  April 7, 2018
8:30 a.m.  –  3:00  p.m.    Registration
8:00 a.m.  –  9:00  a.m.    Foco Meetings 2
9:10 a.m.  –  10:20 a.m.   Session Eight
9:30 a.m.  –  3:00  p.m.    Exhibits
10:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.   Session Nine
11:40 a.m. –  12:40 p.m.   Lunch (on your own)
12:50 p.m. –  2:10 p.m.    Plenary III: Chicana Plenary  
2:20 p.m.  –  3:30  p.m.    Session Ten
3:40 p.m.  –  4:50  p.m.    Session Eleven
5:00 p.m.  –  6:30  p.m.    Business Meeting
6:30 p.m.                         Closing Reception

 

Spring 2018 – Vol. 42 No. 2

NACCS 45: Mexicans in Minnesota

From the Book Mexicans in Minnesota by Dionicio Valdés

NACCS 45 returns to the Midwest where Mexican and Mexican-Americans have established roots for over 100 years. Historically, the Chicana/o/x history has focused on the American Southwest. Although we have traditionally traced and examined through the colonial territory of New Spain and the Mexican State as a starting point, 19th and early 20th century Mexicans and Mexican-American followed the railroads which brought to the far north of the American Mid-west.

Like other Mexican and Mexican-American families that trekked north from the southwest to Minnesota, and specifically to the St. Paul area, working families found work. Although majority of Mexican and Mexican-American migrants arrived in the region to meet labor demands and eventually followed circulated back, many migrants and immigrants choose to stay in Minnesota and planted roots (Valdés, 2005).

So, as we venture out to explore the city, let us be reminded that the Minneapolis-St. Paul area has deep historical roots outside of the Chicana/o/x traditional borderlands.

To read further on Mexicans in Minnesota, here a link to Dionicio Valdés book. Link Here

Other Links of Interest

Latino Education Gap

St. Paul Walking Tours of Mexican American Art

Minnesotanos: Latino Journeys in Minnesota

 

Spring 2018 – Vol. 42 No. 2

NACCS 45: New Resolution Process Introduced for 2018 Conference

Dear NACCS Member,

Our annual meeting in Minneapolis-Saint Paul is rapidly approaching, and we are excited to see you and celebrate together the richness and vibrancy that is Chicana/o/x Studies.

The Board wishes to announce an important new process for submitting resolutions beginning this year. This decision is taken to ease communication offering NACCS members, Focos, and Caucuses greater opportunities for deliberating on resolutions before the conference.  The revised process reflects changes that draw on the technological communication practices that echo the way we live and work today.

The resolution process has not functioned efficiently for quite some time, and has been the subject of extended frustration for several years. For the members the process meant making time to investigate, write, and vet the composition of resolutions while trying also to participate in the conference.   The Board devoted significant time and attention to review and draft resolutions during the conference in addition to meeting over pressing matters, and carrying out their conference roles.  The work entailed intensive revising, editing, and returning resolutions submitted by Foco and Caucus designated members within a very tight deadline.

In light of the intensive demands on both the Foco and Caucus Leadership and the Board we have determined that the process is neither efficient nor conducive to the vital community building that ought to take place during the conference.  We believe that the Foco and Caucus leadership as well as the Board members should be attending panels, meeting with members, and attending to other NACCS business over the course of our brief and invigorating four days. These changes give Focos and Caucuses greater opportunities at the national meeting to discuss and move other items on their agendas during their meeting times.

Therefore, we propose to revise the resolution process to facilitate Focos and Caucuses to develop resolutions before the national conference thereby introducing a more effective process.  We are asking that you please forward resolutions to the Board at least fourteen (14) days before the national conference begins so that we may review them in advance of the conference.

The date for submissions is Wednesday, March 21st. Resolutions will be forwarded to the NACCS Secretary to compile the list of Resolutions for our collective work.  Please send your resolutions to: Jennie Luna (jennie@naccs.org).

Here is a link on Writing NACCS Resolutions

We hope that Focos and Caucuses will begin now to draft possible resolutions for the 2018 conference. Foco representatives and Caucus chairs should be in contact with their At-Large representatives on the Board if they have questions or need assistance in the preparation of resolutions.  Please note that the Board will be introducing a resolution to formally integrate this process into the bylaws.

Sincerely,

NACCS Board

NACCS 45: Writing a NACCS Resolution

RESOLUTIONS DUE WEDNESDAY

MARCH 21, 2018 to NACCS SECRETARY

Email to jennie@naccs.org

Writing a NACCS Resolution

An effective resolution is one that conveys a sense of the issue or problem that led to the proposed action, provides an explanation or justification for the particular proposed solution, gives the reader enough background so he/she can understand what is being proposed, and makes it absolutely clear what people are voting on.

Typical resolutions have several parts:
Heading:
The first line should be a brief descriptive title for the resolution
The second line should be the name of the originating Foco or Caucus
The third line should be a resolution designation number from the commission, such as NACCS Conference 2016
It is also helpful to include the following lines in the heading, with dates added as completed:

Approved by Foco/Caucus ________: (date)
Authors of Resolution;
Contact Information of Authors;

WHEREAS statements:
The WHEREAS statements are where you describe the problem or issue, the history or context for the policy if important, which bodies were involved in reviewing and advising on this policy proposal, and the general nature of the policy solution being proposed and why it solves the problem.
When these are well written, there is a kind of rolling logic to the statements. In some cases, the statements might be organized in chronological order.
While you should make sure you cover the topic well enough for an uninitiated reader to follow, typically a resolution should be one page or less, total. A very simple issue might require one or two WHEREAS statements. A more involved issue might require five or six WHEREAS statements, each a brief paragraph of several sentences.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED statement:
This is the punchline. It is the action being taken. You should state EXACTLY what is to be voted upon. If the item is very brief, then it can be incorporated in this section of the resolution. If you are revising existing language, it is often very helpful to include the old version so that the reader can compare the two. If the new or revised policy statement is long, then this section might say: “That the attached policy on (subject) be adopted effective (date).” Then attach the complete policy statement clearly identified at the top.

It is VERY important to state exactly how the new or revised policy will go into effect. For example, policies affecting NACCS Officiers are incorporated in the NACCS Bylaws and a reference should be made to a specific bylaw that would be revised. You need to be specific about what should be revised and exactly what language is being proposed for the revision. The reason for this is obvious once you start the task– it often brings up issues that need more discussion and resolution if the policy is really going to be implemented.

Include an effective date for the policy (effective immediately? some subsequent term?)

Note from the Chair

By Venetia June Pedraza

Since the 2017 conference, the NACCS Board has been working through important issues affecting our organization. This year’s board has diligently worked to make the organization remain sustainable. Our task is to insure that the membership has a continuous place and space to come together each year share in all the diversities that come with teaching and learning Chicana and Chicana Studies.

The Board had a difficult task and decision to make about the composition of the Board. First, Alexandro Jose Gradilla resigned the Board as an At-Large Representative. Second, as many of you know, Jose Angel Hernandez was removed from the board after the NACCS 2017 conference. Truly, it has been trying time on the NACCS board. However, despite the loss of some of our Board member, I want to thank this year’s remaining board members because they have worked through the difficulties and moved forward to ensure that the NACCS 2018 conference happens. Although we have experienced “bumps in the road,” this summer, the NACCS board came together and made it possible to continue with the work of NACCS, and I am happy to say that all the Call for Awards is out, the 2018 Conference site has been chosen, and the Call for Papers has just been released.

During this time of transition,  the NACCS Board revisited the Treasurer’s term. Historically, it the has been a two-year, elected position. The Treasurer oversees the financial work and health of the Association with primary account signatory, and assures that budgets and financial reports are made to the National Board and the membership in collaboration with the Executive Director. During 2015-17, NACCS Treasurer, Chalane Lechuga, began this work and with the progress that has been steadily made by prior Treasurers, NACCS has been able to provide comprehensive and detailed analyses of NACCS financials, as well as conveying critical financial information to NACCS Focos and Caucuses and the NACCS membership. In the process of completing this work, the Board recognized that it takes time to learn the work of the Treasurer and has proposed a three year-term.  In the interim, as NACCS works toward updating bylaws in order to comply with California State regulations and to ensure the financial work and health of the organization, the Board voted to suspend the bylaws to “allow Chalane Lechuga to remain as Treasurer and to integrate Cecilia Aragon as Treasurer-Elect for 2017-18 with all rights of Board membership for 2017-18.”

As the continuing NACCS Chair, I am very excited about this year’s conference theme, “The Queer Turn.” This year’s theme will help us critically explore and examine, not only the “polymorphous meanings of the term ‘queer’,” but it will also help us explore new moments of unpredicted change during this tumultuous time. As Aureliano DeSoto, NACCS Chair-Elect, states, “Academia is undergoing a radical metamorphosis. The social and political order of the United States is fractured in ways that are at once old as well as new. Resurgent racism, misogyny, political and state violence, and rising hate crimes belie the myth of a post-racial state with equality under the law. The very identity category of Chicana/o/x is transforming before our very eyes. Our challenge is to understand the Queer Turn as a productive allegory for successfully surviving and thriving in a historic moment of chaos, mutation, and perhaps transfiguration.” Hence, I invite all members of the NACCS community to submit to this year’s NACCS conference. I encourage the membership to invite others from outside the organization to submit paper proposals and panels as well.

Finally, I want to thank the NACCS membership. Without you, the membership, there would be no space where we could engage in critical dialogues that really makes our to conferences special each and every year. And I am so proud that the NACCS membership continues to show up year after year with new themes, contexts, dialogues, ways of teaching, modes of learning, and numerous perspectives – and I look forward to seeing you all in Minneapolis in 2018.

Fall 2017, Volume 42 No. 1