Temple University’s Latinx Initiative brings together research, teaching and community engagement to support Latino communities on campus and across Philadelphia.

Led by the Klein College of Media and Communication and the College of Liberal Arts, the initiative supports scholarly collaboration and public programming alongside efforts in student recruitment and retention, curriculum development and community health.

Scholarly exchange was central to the initiative’s Hispanic Heritage Month programming, which included film screenings, presentations and book talks exploring identity, migration and racism.

The series concluded Oct. 15 with “Combating Racism Through Assimilation: Antiracism and Making Indigenous Erasure Visible,” a book talk by Sebastián Gil-Riaño, an assistant professor of history at the University of Pennsylvania.

Other events included:

• A screening of “Searching for the Songs of Wanaragua,” a documentary by filmmaker Eli Laban and language educator Cesar Vargas Sabio.
• “The Undeniable Truth of DNA,” a presentation by Argentine artist and activist Claudia Bernard, co-sponsored by the Center for the Humanities at Temple (CHAT) and the Department of Anthropology.
• “Leave If You Can: Migration and Violence in Bordered Worlds,” a book talk by Amelia Frank-Vitale, an assistant professor of anthropology at Princeton University, co-sponsored by Global Studies.

Beyond its public programming, the initiative supports the launch of a Latino Media minor and the expansion of Spanish-language and Latino-focused courses and programming, including TUTV’s “Lo Ultimo” and “Update Ahora.”

Its broader efforts include strengthening community engagement and community-focused health initiatives, increasing support for study abroad programs in Latin America, expanding translation services through the College of Liberal Arts’ Translation Institute, and increasing Philadelphia Neighborhoods’ coverage of Philadelphia’s Latino communities.

Additional events are being planned for the spring semester. Klein faculty and students interested in learning more or getting involved can contact Professor Patrick Murphy.

Before publication, confirm the year of the fall events, whether the spring invitation is still timely, and the current status of the Latino Media minor. Names, titles and program details above follow the supplied draft.