Un Cafe con Leche: The Conversation Continues | Latinx Heritage Month

Monday Oct 5th, 2020

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Un Cafe con Leche: The Conversation Continues | Latinx Heritage Month

 

Please join us on Thursday, October 15 at 12:00 PM for a virtual roundtable between Leslie Sotomayor, Roger Solano, Stephanie Diez-Morel, and Sheila Lorenzo de la Pena. This is hosted in connection with Edinboro University's Latinx Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct 15).

In alignment with our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Erie Arts & Culture is proud to host this Hispanic cultural programming. We will gather for a Cafe con Leche, which - as you will read below - is much more than sharing a pot of coffee.

Please register in advance here!

What is a 'cafe con leche?'

In Latinx culture, having a 'cafe con leche' is a tradition that includes more than just enjoying a cup of coffee.

Cafe con Leche is a way of life in Latinx households, and it is very common to sit around the table at family gatherings to drink and enjoy for hours in conversation.

Saying to someone "let have a cafe con leche" you are inviting them into your home, into your life, sharing a moment in time with them, practicing hospitality, and having a deeper connection through conversation. As the cafe warms you up and makes you feel at ease, it allows for an opportunity to share in honest and meaningful conversations. Often, over a 'cafe con leche' families, friends, and friends who became family discuss their daily lives, share what they are struggling with, and even practice being brave by being vulnerable with one another as they share in the joy and struggles that life can bring.

Other virtual programming for the month can be found here.

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Dr. Roger Solano

Dr. Roger Solano has been a faculty member at SRU since 2009. He specializes in mathematical and numerical models and techniques for decision making. He teaches Quantitative Analysis, Business Analytics, Operations Management and Supply Chain Management. His recent research includes interests include empirical and applied research in Intelligent Transportation System, the Analysis of Agricultural census data, and the application of new technologies to the learning process. Dr. Solano has a PhD in Industrial Engineering from NJIT and his undergraduate degree is from La Universidad del Zulia (Venezuela). He is a big promoter of diversity, equity and inclusion. He also champions Hispanic cultural programs on SRU’s campus.

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Dr. Sheila Lorenzo de la Peña

Sheila Lorenzo de la Peña, Ph.D., ATR-BC, ATRS. She was born in Cuba and immigrated to Florida as a child. She is an assistant faculty with the art therapy program at Edinboro University in PA. As an artist and clinician she promotes routine use of creative expression for self-care and resiliency. She explores non-traditional application of creative expression for clinical interventions. Creative practices are shared through social media and workshops. She supervises an open studio space at Edinboro University, and could be contacted by [email protected].

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Dr. Leslie C. Sotomayor

Leslie C. Sotomayor is an artist, curator, and holds a dual PhD in Art Education and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Penn State. She focuses on Gloria Anzaldúa’s theory of conocimiento and autohistoria-teoría, a feminist writing practice of theorizing one’s experiences as transformative acts to guide her teaching methodology and create curriculum for empowerment and transformation in curating art/educational spaces/communities that decolonize White hegemonic canons.

Sotomayor has completed artworks, installations and curated numerous art exhibitions including: Let’s Pretend (2020), Entre Mundos/Traveling In-Between (2018), Hilos Rojos (2017) a solo traveling exhibition in Cuba and Borrandofronteras/Erasingborders (2015) a Cuban and Cuban-American Collaborative Art Exhibition & Cultural Exchange. Sotomayor has numerous publications about her research and work in the United States and Cuba engaging in testimonio, social change, and decolonizing curatorial projects, visual arts studio practice, research and scholarship, including her forthcoming book Teaching In/between (2021). Currently Sotomayor is an educator at Edinboro University and may be contacted at: [email protected]

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Dr. Stephanie L. Diez-Morel

Dr. Stephanie Diez-Morel (pronouns are: she/her/hers) joined Edinboro University in 2019 as an Assistant Professor in the department of social work teaching graduate social work students. Dr. Diez-Morel earned her Ph.D. from Florida International University where she was awarded a student scholar in Health Disparities Research Fellowship offered through the Center for Research on US Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA). As a C-SALUD Student Scholar in Health Disparities Research Fellow, Dr. Diez-Morel’s research contributed to the reduction, prevention, and elimination of health disparities affecting Latinx populations in the United States.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Master Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP), Dr. Diez-Morel has worked within nonprofit community organizations and community hospitals in Miami and throughout South Florida. She provided direct therapeutic services, education, prevention, research and consultation to address behavioral health issues, such as substance use disorders, with populations of children, adolescents, adults, families, and communities. Her experiences in research and fieldwork inspired and motivated her to intervene and address the social, emotional, physical, and psychological effects of problematic technology use on individuals, families, and communities. Subsequently, in 2013, Stephanie founded Reboot & Recover, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization devoted to the education, prevention, research, and treatment of problematic technology use. Dr. Diez-Morel is the recipient of the Most Next Award for Innovation in 2019, a grant awarded by the AICP Foundation in recognition of her work with Reboot & Recover.

Dr. Diez-Morel’s research interests include: Cyberpsychology; health disparities among Latinx; substance use/misuse and behavioral addictions; substance use disorders; internet gaming disorder; problematic internet use; co-occurring disorders; and intersections of trauma and health.

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