The Meadowlark Center is pleased to announce the visit of three humanities scholars – Marie (Keta) Miranda, Louis G. Mendoza, and Raul R. Salinas, on October 29; the program, entitled ‘Platica y Poesia, a Latino Humanities Program, will begin at 6:00 p.m. The event, sponsored in part by the Kansas Humanities Council, will take place at The Meadowlark Center, 2111 N. Spencer (24th Street and Old Trail Road in rural Newton

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, October 11, 2004-10-11

INFORMATION CONTACT: Kamala Platt, PhD. Phone: 316-283-5107; wireless; 210-269-0450 or  kamalap@earthlink.net.
The Meadowlark Center is pleased to announce the visit of three humanities scholars – Marie (Keta) Miranda, Louis G. Mendoza, and Raul R. Salinas, on October 29; the program, entitled ‘Platica y Poesia, a Latino Humanities Program, will begin at 6:00 p.m. The event, sponsored in part by the Kansas Humanities Council, will take place at The Meadowlark Center, 2111 N. Spencer (24th Street and Old Trail Road in rural Newton). The presentations are part of The Meadowlark Center’s Humanities Series, which focuses on cultural reception and self/community-representation in the Americas. This autumn’s events will feature these issues through hearing about the work of three Latina/o humanities scholars-teachers-writers-community workers. Dr. Marie (Keta) Miranda’s research presents Latina gang members as actors (agents of culture?) in our culture rather than objects of study. She will share stories that offer new insights on an often maligned group of youth and a new take on our perspectives of ourselves in our relationships to others that is crucial to contemporary humanities. Raul R, Salinas will share critical and creative insight as a Chicano elder, poet, writer, performer and cultural worker. Louis Mendoza, PhD. Provides astute insight into the writings of Raulrsalinas (as the poet is known to those who read and hear his work) while providing us with the broader significance of Salinas’s writing with both a critique of the ‘jail machine’ and hopeful understanding of the strength of the human spirit and intellect that allows one to turn prison into school and the limitations of incarceration into a passion for learning and for promoting justice.
Previous events in The Meadowlark Center series include a photo exhibit and information fair and a visual memoir presentation of torn paper collages. The Meadowlark Center is a newly-formed institution near Newton Kansas, that promotes programming and direct participation in humanities, arts, and environmental and social justice studies. The Center will mark its first anniversary with the program as well as a celebration of Dia de Los Muertos with an altar commemorating the recent passing of people of importance to its wider community. Audience members are invited to participate by bringing mementos for the altar that represent their loved ones and/or those whose lives have made a positive difference. Light comida and a reception with pan dulce y chocolate are planned. The Wordsworth Book Room, housed at the Center for the past year, will have copies of books by the visiting scholars for sale and display, along with other humanities and ethnic and cultural studies books, (including bilingual children’s books) and books from its ‘US America and the World’ section. The event is free to the public, but donations to The Meadowlark Center are requested in order to support such programming and sustain The Center’s development.
The Meadowlark Center hosts projects rooted in the arts and cultural expression, and promotion of environmental, social justice and peace, seeking to foster a spirit of creative and critical growth by supporting progressive and Indigenous cultures and sense of place rooted in an expanded knowledge of the world and Kansas traditions; for more information or to volunteer help in preparing this program, call 316-283-5107 or email  kamalap@earthlink.net.
The Meadowlark Center wishes to acknowledge the generous support of the Kansas Humanities Council in helping to make Platica y Poesia, a Latino Humanities Program possible. Kansas Humanities Council, a non-profit cultural organization with thirty years experience, conducts and supports community-based programs, and serves as a financial resource through an active grant-making program, and encouraging Kansans to participate in their community. For more information visit: www.kasashumanities.org.

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