Monday, January 22, 2007

Medieval Spain, Argentine Tango, border ballads, and immigration forum: a busy week in Hispanic Nashville


Monday: immigration forum at University School of Nashville

"Making sense of the debate"

Monday, January 22, from 7 – 9 p.m.

University School of Nashville Auditorium
2000 Edgehill Avenue
Nashville, TN 37212

Please join us for an educational forum designed to illuminate the complex and emotionally-charged rhetoric surrounding the immigration debate. This session will center on a thoughtful and constructive conversation on immigration and the positive steps that can be taken to address the problems associated with illegal immigration. The forum will address:

· the history of immigration in America

· the influence immigration has had on the democratic process

· current trends in immigration in Nashville, Tennessee, and the nation

· the impact of immigration on the US economy

· the national and local legislation being proposed

· alternative solutions to the problems and challenges at hand

Presenters include Dr. Katharine Donato (Vanderbilt Professor of Sociology), Stephen Fotopulos (Policy Director – Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition), Tom Negri (Tennessee Hotel Association/General Manager Loews Vanderbilt Hotel), and members of the immigrant community. The panel discussion and audience participation will be moderated by Caroline Blackwell, Director of Multicultural Affairs, University School of Nashville.

The forum is being sponsored by University School of Nashville’s Office of Multicultural Affairs in partnership with the Coalition for Education and Informed Conversation on Immigration.

Catholic Charities, Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation, Conexion Americas, Fisk University Race Relations Institute, Franklin Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Jewish Family Service, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Nashville Human Relations Commission, Nashville Peace and Justice Center, National Conference of Community and Justice—Middle Tennessee, Scarritt-Bennett Center, Tennessee AFL-CIO, Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Tennessee Hispanic Voters Coalition, Tennessee Hotel and Lodging Association, Tennessee Human Rights Commission, TN Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, Woodbine Community Organization

For more information about this event, contact Caroline Blackwell at (615) 277-7480 or at cblackwell@usn.org. The forum is free and open to public.


Thursday: Border-crossing composer drives story in "Al Otro Lado," showing at Vanderbilt

Director will be present for discussion

The Center for Latin American and Iberian Studies Spring Film & Speaker Series presents "Al Otro Lado" (To the Other Side, 2005) on Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in Buttrick 101. This film tells the story behind illegal immigration and drug trafficking between the U.S. and Mexico through the eyes of Magdiel, a 23-year old fisherman and aspiring composer who dreams of a better life.

As movingly chronicled in "Al Otro Lado," Natalia Almada's debut feature, the border is a place where one people's dreams collide with another people's politics, and the 200-year-old tradition of corrido music vibrantly chronicles it all. In fact, if you really want to understand what is happening on the U.S./Mexico border, listen to the corridos, troubadour-like ballads that have become the voice of people whose views are rarely heard in mainstream media.

A discussion of the film with director Natalia Almada will follow the screening.


Thursday: Tango Nashville's second monthly Milonga

A new twist for dance group

Tango Nashville is already on the dance floor in 2007, having held beginner, intermediate and advanced classes and one Milonga already. The group has will hold its second January Milonga this Thursday, January 25 and has announced various special events for dance-minded Nashvillians this year:

NEW in 2007: TWO Monthly 'Milongas'!!
New: 2nd. Sunday of each month: 4 to 6 pm
As always: 4th. Thursday of each month: 7 to 9 pm

By popular demand, we have added a new date and time to share your Tango spirit and moves!
Here's the skinny for January 2007:

Thursday, January 25, 2007
7 to 9 pm
Ibiza Night Club
15128 Old Hickory Blvd., Nashville, TN 37211
(almost corner with Nolensville Pike, in the Hickory Trace Village strip mall where the Sherwin Williams store is).
http://ibizanc.com
Practice and show off your Tango! Socialize and relax, while dancing to a great selection of Tango music.
Tickets are:
$12 per person for non-Tango Nashville members
$8 per person for Tango Nashville members
CASH OR CHECK ONLY

**************************

SAVE THESE DATES!!

Saturday, February 3, 2007
4:30 to 7:30 pm
'Tango & Art', in partnership with the Tennessee Art League

Tuesday, April 24, 2007
6:30 to 8:30 pm
'Tango & Romance' @ the Nashville City Club

June 2007
'Tango & Wine'

Saturday, August 18, 2007
'Tango & Country' - Our Annual Fundraiser


For information about classes, visit the Tango Nashville web site at www.tangonashville.com

Photo credit: FangFangMM

Thursday: Austin Peay Spanish Professor Dr. Miguel Ruiz-Aviles speaks at Charlemos Spanish on "Medieval Spain: Model of Tolerance"

Dr. Miguel R. Ruiz-Avilés will speak, in Spanish, on Medieval Spain as a model of religious tolerance for the present day at Charlemos Spanish on Thursday 25 January. Charlemos Spanish meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Palette Gallery and Cafe at 2119 Belcourt Avenue in Hillsboro Village. The event is free and open to the public.

Dr. Ruiz is an Associate Professor of Spanish; the Director of the Hispanic Cultural Center; and the Coordinator of the Study Abroad Program in Spain for the Department of Languages and Literature at Austin Peay State University. He is originally from Puerto Rico.

“Miguel has some very interesting ideas and is a dynamic speaker”, said Charlemos president, Elizabeth Worrell Braswell. “This is an opportunity to hear about one of the most fascinating periods of Spanish history, from an expert”, added Braswell.

“In 711, Spain began the first European renaissance. Jews, Muslims and Christians were allowed, for the most part, to freely practice their religions and many Jews and Christians held important post in the Moorish government of the time. Today, when we are looking for political, military or social solutions to the problems in the Middle East, Spain could very well serve as a model that needs to be studied in more depth”, explained Miguel.

Charlemos Spanish is a social conversation group, for all levels of Spanish-speakers, created in December 2006 by the Spanish Committee of Sister Cities of Nashville, a nonprofit organization, founded in 1990, dedicated to the promotion of global understanding through educational, professional and cultural exchanges.

Mayor Bill Purcell is the Honorary Chair for Sister Cities of Nashville.

Charlemos Spanish is for persons who wish to:
* Speak Spanish on a regular basis
* Make bilingual friends
* Learn more about Hispanic culture.

Founding members of Charlemos Spanish include—
* Claudia Villavicencio, Spanish teacher at MBA, Montgomery Bell Academy
* Kim Sorensen, Online Producer at CMT, Country Music Television
* Diana Holland, President of Tango Nashville, and a Hispanic cross-cultural consultant
* Elizabeth Worrell Braswell, online Spanish instructor for Austin Peay State University, president of Charlemos Spanish.

For directions and more information on the gallery go to: www.palettegallerycafe.com


Photo credit: Ruth Lozano

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