Wayne State University’s Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies’ Anniversary gala launches annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
At 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, the Wayne State University Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies (CLLAS) will hold its 46th anniversary celebration. At this gala event, alumni and corporate, civic and community stakeholders will come together to support excellence, diversity and equity in higher education while raising funds to award scholarships to Wayne State students. The annual Gala and Celebración marks the beginning of WSU’s observance of the National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sep. 15 through Oct. 15), which coincides with the independence of several Latin American and Caribbean countries, and honors the many contributions of the LatinX community in the United States.
This year’s event will be held at El Kiosko Banquet Hall, located at 7271 Dix Street in Detroit. Agustín V. Arbulu, executive director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, will be the year’s keynote speaker. Jane García, chair of the Board of Directors of LASED, will be recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award; María Torres Guzmán, a Columbia University professor emerita of bilingual/bicultural education, will be honored with the Founder’s Award; and María Teresa Penman, director of Southwest Solutions’ Resident Engagement Vista Partnership, will be presented a Public and Community Service Award. Fox 2 Television meteorologist María Molina Timmer will be the gala’s Mistress of Ceremonies. Musician Obed Succari and of his Latin jazz trio PanaMO will perform during dinner.
This year’s gala is made possible through the charitable contributions of its many guests, as well as generous sponsors such as UAW-GM, UAW-Ford, Comerica Bank, General Motors, the Michigan First Credit Union, MGM Grand Detroit, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, DTE Energy, Dalia García, the Mechanical Contractors Association of Detroit, Latinos de Livonia and MANA of Detroit. El Central Hispanic News will be this year’s media sponsor.
For tickets, donations, sponsorship, and more information contact Melissa Miranda Ellison at melissa.ellison@wayne.edu or call 313-577-4378.