On April 11-13, 2017, CLACS will host the symposium, Threads of Hope: Weaving Peace in Colombia.  Speakers include scholars of conflict and peace-building in Colombia as well community activists engaged in the peace-building process.    

Threads of Hope: Weaving Peace in Colombia

April 11-13, 2017

• Speakers
• Additional Resources
• Sponsors and Organizing Committee

April 11, Tuesday

5:00 - 7:00 pm We Women Warriors 

Film showing and discussion facilitated by

• Galia J. Benitez, assistant professor, MSU James Madison College
• Mary Ann Lugo, graudate student, Romance & Classical Studies
• Angie Vega, student, MSU College of Law

Madison College Library, 3rd floor, Case Hall
Movie in Spanish with English subtitles.  Pizza and popcorn provided.

April 12, Wednesday

8:30 - 9:50 am Voices of Peace

Assistant Professor Galia Benitez will facilitate a discussion among students in the MC 324C course, Regional Politics, Cooperation and Conflict in Latin America and the Caribbean and participants:

• Rosa Jimenez, director, Observatory for Forced Displacement, University of Cartagena  
• Ricardo Esquivia Ballestas, human rights attorney, Sembrandopaz
• Juana Alicia Ruiz, leader, Mujeres Tejiendo Sueños y Sabores de Paz

Room 303, International Center

10:20 - 11:40 am  Building Peace in Colombia

• Galia J. Benitez, Quincy Kittle, Betsy Borre, MSU James Madison College: The Role of the Business Sector

• Rosa Jimenez, University of Cartagena: The Role of Education and the University. 

Room 303 International Center

1:00 - 2:30 pm Sowing Seeds of Peace

• Ricardo Esquivia Ballestas, Colombian human rights attorney, Sembrandopaz (Sowing Peace)

Introduction by Miguel Cabañas, associate professor, MSU Romance & Classical Studies

Room 303 and 305 International Center

2:30 - 3:00 pm Visit the Exhibit: Threads of Hope (Mampujan Women) 

• Located on the third floor, International Center

3:00 - 4:30 pm Feature Presentation: Threads of Hope and Quilt Exhibit

Opening Remarks, Laurie Medina, director, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies

• Juana Alicia Ruiz Hernandez, leader, Mujeres Tejiendo Sueños y Sabores de Paz (Women Weaving Dreams and Flavors of Peace)
• Jes Stoltzfus Buller, peace education coordinator, Mennonite Central Committee 

Discussant, Elvira Sánchez-Blake, associate professor, MSU Romance & Classical Studies

Reception

April 13, Thursday

9:00 - 10:00 am Urban Galleries of Memory in Colombia

• Constanza López, associate professor, Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, University of North Florida

Spartan Rooms B & C, International Center, next to Crossroads Food Court

10:20 - 11:40 am Building Peace in Colombia: Round Table Discussion

• Elvira Sánchez-Blake, associate professor, MSU Romance & Classical Studies

• Rosa Jimenez, director, Observatory for Forced Displacement, University of Cartagena

• Alejandro Herrero-Olaizola, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Spanish, University of Michigan

Spartan Rooms B & C, International Center

12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch Provided

1:00 - 3:00 pm Quilt Workshop 

• Juana Alicia Ruiz Hernandez, Mujeres Tejiendo Sueños y Sabores de Paz  

• Facilitator, Joni Starr, assistant professor, Arts Integration, Department of Teacher Education

• Spartan Rooms B & C, International Center

3:00 - 3:30 pm Closing Remarks

• Elvira Sánchez-Blake, associate professor, MSU Department of Romance & Classical Studies

• Galia Benitez, assistant professor, MSU James Madison College

• Emily Holley, associate director, MSU Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies

• Laurie Medina, director, MSU Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies