The Latinx and Democracy Cluster Speakers Series brings outstanding scholars in Latinx ethnic studies and humanities to UC Berkeley. The series seeks to provide an interdisciplinary community of scholars with insightful perspectives supporting research to enhance justice, equity, and inclusion for Latinx communities.
Upcoming Events:
April 22, 2025: Dr. Luis H Zayas
Immigration Enforcement: Facing A New Reality of An Age-Old Phenomenon
In partnership with the Berkeley School of Social Welfare, the Latinx and Democracy Cluster (LDC) Speaker Series, and the Center on Immigration and Child Welfare Initiative, Dr. Kristina Lovato, Assistant Professor of Social Welfare and Director of the Center on Immigration and Child Welfare Initiative at UC Berkeley, invites you to a guest lecture by Dr. Luis Zayas, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on “Immigration Enforcement: Facing A New Reality of An Age-Old Phenomenon.”
This presentation summarizes the research findings described in the award-winning book, Through Iceboxes and Kennels: How Immigration Detention Harms Children and Families, about the plight of asylum-seeking families. This presentation addresses the psychological and social impact of migration and immigration enforcement on children and parents. A theoretical model of immigration from Central America will be discussed with emphasis on the post-migration experiences, particularly the effects on children’s attachment and mental health using graphic images of disrupted development. How practitioners and service organizations can serve these families, and the recent changes in immigration enforcement, are considered in the context of an uncertain future for immigrants and citizens.
Dr. Zayas will be available to sign copies of his book after the talk.
Date/location: Tuesday, April 22nd, 2:30-4:00pm
Haviland Commons, first floor of Haviland Hall, UC Berkeley campus
Website to RSVP: bit.ly/3XMRRTd
Sponsors: Berkeley School of Social Welfare, the Latinx and Democracy Cluster (LDC) Speaker Series, and the Center on Immigration and Child Welfare Initiative
Guest Lecture with Dr. Arturo Vargas Bustamante
Our first Spring 2025 event took place on Thursday, February 25, from 12:40 to 2 p.m. in Berkeley Way West (2121 Berkeley Way College Room 1104, 1st Floor) with 60 participants present.
In partnership with the Health Policy Colloquium, the Latinx and Democracy Speaker Series, and Dr. Jenny Guadamuz, Assistant Professor of Public Health at UC Berkeley, a guest lecture was held by Dr. Arturo Vargas Bustamante, "Barriers & Bridges: Accessing Health Care for Immigrants and Limited English Proficient Patients."
This presentation summarized the findings of a mixed-methods research study that investigated healthcare access disparities for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Medicaid patients. Using a "mystery shopper" methodology in Los Angeles, Houston, and New York, the study team compared wait times and telehealth availability for Spanish and Mandarin speakers versus English speakers. The study found significantly longer wait times and less telehealth access for LEP individuals, along with qualitative data highlighting negative call experiences.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Cecilia Ayón
In partnership with the UC Berkeley Latinx and Democracy Speaker Series, Dr. Kristina Lovato, Assistant Professor of Social Welfare, hosted the official launch of the Center on Immigration and Child Welfare, which featured a guest lecture from immigration scholar Dr. Cecilia Ayón on: "Toxic Immigration Stress: The Chronic Exposure to Restrictive Immigration Policy and Enforcement among Immigration-Impacted Families." Dr. Cecilia Ayón is a Professor of Public Policy at the University of California, Riverside. The event occurred on Tuesday, April 23rd, from 12-2 pm in the School of Social Welfare, Haviland Commons, 1st Floor. Seventy people attended the lecture.
A Conversation with Lydia Otero
The LDC Speaker Series was launched with a conversation with Dr. Lydia Otero. The event was held on March 6, 2024, from 12:30-2:30 p.m. at the Barbara Christian Conference Room, 554 Social Sciences Building at UC Berkeley. Lydia Otero is a historian, activist, and author of (most recently) two memoirs:
- In the Shadows of the Freeway traces their youth growing up brown and queer and working-class next to Interstate-10 in Tucson, Arizona. It has been praised as “a searing memoir of legacy, loss, and love,” as well as “a singular contribution to Latina/o history, urban studies, queer theory, and gender studies.”
- LA Interchanges continues Lydia’s story after moving to LA as a young adult. The memoir narrates their years of discovery, community building, on-the-job experiences as a professional electrician, and political engagement. Interchanges have been praised as “a gripping, passionate narrative of personal becoming amid the political and cultural currents of 1980s Los Angeles.”
