OLLU will host the national conference, “Holding up the Mirror: 50^th Anniversary of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Hearing on Mexican Americans in the Southwest,” Nov. 15-17.

The conference will examine the past as well as the progress of civil rights for Latinos since the landmark hearing, held at OLLU in 1968, and explore the path forward for all Latino populations in the United States.

This conference will include more than 24 sessions and roundtable discussions featuring the country’s top scholars and activists. Session and discussion topics include:

• Housing
• Education
• Immigration
• Political participation
• Administration of justice
• Employment
• Economics
• Voting rights

Additional events include:

• 50 Years Later: A Conversation with former San Antonio Mayors and HUD Secretaries, Julián Castro and Henry Cisneros
  Friday, Nov. 16 – 9:30 a.m. – Thiry Auditorium
  The event will be moderated by Congressman Joaquín Castro
• A Celebration of Progress
  Friday, Nov. 16 – 5:30 p.m. – Main Building, Front Walk
  Join us for a cultural reception featuring food, music, performances and readings from some of San Antonio’s renowned authors and poets.

Performances by:

• El Pachuco Boogie Dance Company
• URBAN-15

Readings by:

• Octavio Quintanilla, PhD, OLLU associate professor of English and San Antonio Poet Laureate
• Carmen Tafolla, PhD, inaugural San Antonio Poet Laureate and former Texas Poet Laureate
• Gregg Barrios, playwright, poet and journalist
• Anel Flores, MFA, author, activist and artist
• John Phillip Santos, author, producer, journalist and filmmaker

The entire conference is free and open to the public. Registration is strongly encouraged. For more information and to register, visit www.50yearslater.org.