PCC hosts regional conference for the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies
Story by Misty Bouse. Photos by Ric Getter.
Portland Community College is hosting a regional conference for the Pacific Northwest Foco (Idaho, Oregon and Washington) of the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS) on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7-8 at the Rock Creek Campus, 17705 NW Springville Road.
The NACCS Pacific Northwest Foco Regional Conference, which will be held in the Rock Creek Event Center in Building 9, features student and faculty research, creative writing, film and music. It will include presentations from colleges and universities across Oregon and Washington. The conference is free and open to the public, but parking is $5 for the day or complementary passes are available on Friday at the registration table for non employees or students.
This year’s conference theme is “Wielding the Black and Red Ink: Fighting Bias and Systemic Oppression from Outside and Within Our Communities.” According to Veronica Sandoval, who is a PCC writing and composition instructor and co-representative for the Pacific Northwest region of NACCS, the forum promotes communication and the exchange of ideas among Chicana/o/x scholars across geographical and disciplinary boundaries.
“My colleagues and I are very excited to offer this event to our PCC faculty, staff, students and community members,” said Sandoval, who also teaches women’s and gender studies and holds a doctorate in American Studies from Washington State University. “I can attest to the comfort and power of connecting in spaces like these, as last year’s regional conference at Yakima Community College proved to be a beautiful space of healing and empowerment.”
On Friday, Nov. 7, registration opens at 4 p.m., with a welcome address at 4:30 p.m. From 6:15-8 p.m., a screening and discussion of the 2008 science-fiction film “Sleep Dealer” will be shown. The film depicts a dystopic future where a heavily militarized border wall has sealed the US-Mexico border.
Veronica Sandoval.
From 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, the day will feature panel presentations, keynote speakers, and lunch. The conference concludes at Centro Cultural in Cornelius from 4 – 7 p.m. with a roundtable discussion facilitated by PCC Ethnic Studies Instructor Gabriel Higuera, along with speakers from El Centro Cultural, Adelante Mujeres and The Latino Network. At 5:30 p.m., the closing plenary session is entitled “Sanando y Mejorando: Mujeres Curanderas y sus Dones (Healing and Improving: Women Healers and Their Gifts)” featuring Narce Rodriguez, Ariella Sadie Bauer, Maria Luisa Alanis Ruiz, Maria Cuellar, Sherrie Davis and Lorena Huerta-Brambila.
Sandoval stated that the intent of the conference is to unite in “creating fierce spaces of healing within our communities so that together, we can do the critical work for our communities to flourish and, together, create a more just world.”
PCC has been working strategically toward achieving Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation from its current Emerging HSI status. Historically, the designation granted access to competitive federal grants that support initiatives, programs, and services aimed at fostering the academic success and advancement of Hispanic, low-income, and first-generation students, thereby creating a more inclusive and culturally responsive environment for all.
For more registration information, visit https://2025PNWFocoRegionalConferenceNACCS.eventbrite.com.