Friday, March 17, 2023 | Vol. 6, No. 9

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT DAISY COCCO DE FILIPPIS

My Dear Colleagues and Students,

We’ve had a busy week with opportunities to engage in conversations about our educational mission, academic initiatives, equity, and civic concerns, support for our students, and interfaith discussions. Special thanks to Rabbi Kaplan of the JCRC, Assistant Director Kujegi Camera of the Fordham University Center for Community Engaged Learning, Rabbi Pewzner of the Bronx Jewish Center, and our very own Father James Sheehan, who participated in our first Interfaith Symposium and Luncheon on March 14. 

On Wednesday, the Children’s Center unveiled its new infant and one-year-old rooms. A celebration for which Denise Maybank, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, CUNY, joined us to kick off the use of a welcoming and safe space for the children of our students, faculty, and staff. Brava!

As I write these words, on Thursday, we had the occasion to celebrate Women’s History Month thanks to an invitation from the New York Botanical Garden here in the Bronx and the Office of Congressman Ritchie Torres. Please be reminded that this year we received a $1 million earmark championed by Congressman Torres to support student transfer opportunities. We have now requested another earmark next year in support of the Mentor/Mentee Jobs on Campus and the Hostos Research Center initiatives. It was a great opportunity to thank him and continue our advocacy.

As the semester progresses, our primary focus is on the teaching and learning, academic, and student support areas to ensure continued success for our students. I hope midterms are going well and that additional support is made available to our students if needed.

Thank you for all you do each and every day to facilitate the journey.

Mil gracias y bendiciones, 

Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.



POEM

MESSAGE FROM STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ

Dear Caimans,

With a heavy heart, I announce that Leaghton N. Ozario has decided to step down as SGA President. However, after careful consideration, the Executive Board and I have decided that I am the best fit to step up. I am honored to represent the student body at our institution, which stands for everything I believe in. I am excited to guide us through the remainder of the year and take part in all of your journeys. 

I am thrilled to announce that the SGA scholarships are currently in the works, and we will provide further updates soon. In addition, we are excited to announce that our Assembly will take place on the 28th of this month. We also have some exciting events coming up, including our Trivia Day and Essay competition. 

As your new SGA leader, I am committed to making sure that your voices are heard and that your needs are met. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me or any member of the SGA team with any concerns or suggestions.



I look forward to working together for the betterment of our institution.

Thank you, 

José

CAIMAN CLUES

Weekly Tips & Reminders to Navigate Life at Hostos

Hello Students,

Welcome to week 8! There are lots of important dates and events ahead. Prepare for Advisement Week and join your fellow classmates in a few storytelling events. Plus, don’t forget to schedule some self-care time and learn tips and tools to navigate your busy life! 

Advisement Week | March 27 - 31: Beginning the week of March 27, you will be able to meet with advisors, coaches, and career advisors to discuss your advisement, registration, transferring, and career goals! Find the full schedule here. 

Celebrate Women’s History Month: Enjoy “Afro Latina Women in Letters and Music,” featuring poetry readings alongside musical and dance performances by the all-women ensemble Retumba on March 21 at 3:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theater. 



MS. MACKENZIE SCOTT’S GIFT: PRESIDENT’S INITIATIVES

Submitted by Sofia Oviedo, Ph.D., Research Programs Director

Dear Students and Colleagues,

I hope that all is progressing well and that you are taking part in all the wonderful activities being offered on campus. This spring is a particularly eventful season for the Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s Gift: President’s Initiatives, which are generating many wonderful opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to connect with one another. Several Educating for Diversity activities are taking place this month. The premiere of the Caribbean play Tek Weh YuhSelf was held last week at the Hostos Center for Arts and Culture and provided everyone with a rousing good time and lots of laughs! 

The Educating for Diversity Initiative is also supporting Women’s History Month: Telling Our Stories, which is hosting a variety of activities engaging our students, faculty, staff, and invited guests on storytelling by and about women. Upcoming events include Afro Latina Women in Letters and Music scheduled for March 21 at 3:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theater that will feature poetry readings and musical performances by the all-women ensemble Retumba. A virtual student panel, Lucille Clifton and Her Body-Positive Poems, is scheduled for March 27, and will provide our students with opportunities to read Clifton’s poetry and engage in a discussion of relevant themes.

I am delighted to announce that the first group of students for the President’s Recognition Tea in Honor of Women’s History Month have been selected and will have the opportunity to receive this special distinction alongside the faculty member that nominated them. Thank you to all the faculty and staff that submitted nominations of students who have faced overwhelming obstacles and still managed to do well in their studies. If you did not have the opportunity to submit a nomination, please note that today is the last day to submit nominations for the President’s Recognition Barbeque in Honor of Student Resiliency.

If there is a student that you would like to nominate, please complete the online form here.

For more information about the Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s Gift: President’s Initiatives, please email or call Sofia Oviedo at soviedo@hostos.cuny.edu | Tel: 718-518-4309



OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT (OIERA)

Submitted by Dean Babette Audant, Ph.D.

It’s time for March Operational Plan updates!

In addition to the equinox, the end of daylight savings time, madness, and mud, March is time for the second formative 2023-24 Operational Plan (OP) update. Hostos’ academic and Administrative and Educational Support (AES) units are providing brief updates about progress made toward goals. The updates can be descriptive/qualitative. If there are quantitative data to share at this point, units are being asked to include it. The third/final update in late May will include results expressed qualitatively and quantitatively and serve as a summative assessment by providing an evaluation of progress made throughout the year.

Assessment liaisons in each division were contacted earlier this week; updates are due by March 22. As a preview of what will be communicated via the March OP updates:

A shout out to SDEM for jumping ahead on the March updates and for the concrete progress made on key initiatives that require process change, including re-engaging readmit students to ensure their success and developing a detailed, intentional, and carefully monitored path for students interested in applying to the clinical Nursing program in close collaboration with Nursing faculty and the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA). The Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) is working with EdTech to support faculty piloting Blackboard Ally, a tool that helps faculty improve the accessibility of documents by allowing students to view course documents in various formats to support different learning needs. Lastly, for now, Transfer Services is on fire! In addition to playing a key role in training students to use Transfer Explorer (TREX), a digital platform that allows students, faculty, and staff to see if courses transfer and how they transfer, Transfer Services is taking part in First Year Experience and leading an analysis of how Hostos’ degrees transfer across CUNY. 



OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Submitted by Director Eric Radezky, Ph.D.

Announcements

Temporary Water Bill Amnesty 

As New York City recovers from the pandemic, the Department of Environmental Protection offers this limited one-time amnesty with up to 100% interest forgiveness for all delinquent customers. You may be eligible for this amnesty offer if you owe water and wastewater charges.

To confirm your eligibility, see your available options and receive amnesty immediately, use the Amnesty Look Up Tool. If your remaining delinquent balance exceeds $500, you must enter into a new payment agreement with DEP upon request.

Before it ends, don’t miss your chance to take advantage of this one-time amnesty program. For questions or concerns, please see our FAQ’s.

CUNY to Waive Application Fee for High School Seniors at New York City Public Schools

The City University of New York announced recently that it is waiving the $65 application fee for New York City public high school seniors who can apply until April 15 to attend a CUNY college in Fall 2023. 

Read all about it here. 



NEWS FROM THE DIVISIONS

OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS (OAA)

Submitted by Success Coach Karina Guardiola-López

Succeed@Hostos Successes Series

How Succeed Helps Advisors, Faculty, and Student Support Professionals Connect with Students

Succeed@Hostos is a tool that serves as a bridge for cross-collaboration between departments to track student needs, progress, and ultimately success. It allows success coaches, campus resources, and faculty to connect and effectively communicate with students.

Students can see early alerts or flags professors post as interventions regarding their progress, attendance, assignments, and referrals. Success coaches create notes periodically to connect and update students with important information such as deadlines, registration support, scholarships, pending items, and more. Succeed@Hostos also makes it easy for success coaches to see their caseloads for degree plan completion.

Students can also see office hours and make appointments with their coach when needed. Professors can contact coaches for additional outreach support when students are unavailable or unresponsive to emails, calls, and messages. In short, Succeed@Hostos creates a team effort for student success!

Submitted by Manual Livingston, Radiologic Technology Unit Coordinator, Allied Health Sciences Department

Rad Tech Faculty Leaders Contribute Expertise to the Broader Community

Congratulations to Professors Arya and Rampersaud

The Hostos Radiologic Technology Unit and the Office of Academic Affairs are proud to spotlight two members of our esteemed Hostos faculty. They are Professor Sanjay Arya and Professor Randy Rampersaud, who have made an indelible impression beyond our Hostos community! Their actions are noteworthy and should be celebrated!

These two faculty members have gone beyond the Hostos campus to build international bridges of education in their field. Through the assistance of RAD-AID, a non-profit international organization, they volunteered their time to develop and deliver a training program in digital imaging in healthcare over the Summer of 2022.

Professor Arya volunteered at Georgetown Public Hospital in Guyana and spent several days training the hospital’s radiology staff with the new digital equipment donated by Siemens Medical Systems.

Professor Rampersaud participated in an international exchange of professional and academic standards with a West African hospital system in developing training methods in digital radiography, CT, and MRI systems. His model was vital in ensuring image quality, healthcare informatics, and optimal patient care.

These two professors are to be applauded for their contributions to the healthcare profession and for representing the qualities and values instilled by our College. The emphasis on intellectual growth was shared with a new audience through an altruistic platform that developed proficiency in healthcare.

Submitted by Carlos Guevara, director of Educational Technology and co-director of the Center for Teaching and Learning

Important Announcement

Blackboard and FERPA: A new process for adding guests to Blackboard courses

I am writing to inform you about a new protocol that became effective starting March 1, 2023, in regard to adding new users to your Blackboard courses. As per the CUNY University Provost and in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), instructors can no longer manually add users and assign user roles within their Blackboard courses.

To address this policy change, the Office of Educational Technology (EdTech) has implemented a new process for requesting the addition of new users to your courses. The purpose of this form is to enable instructors to request the addition of observers, tutors, supplemental instructors, or peer leaders to their Blackboard courses. The form will serve as the primary method for instructors to request course user additions.

Once you have submitted the form, the request will be automatically sent to the department chair for approval. The Blackboard administrator will enroll the requested user in the course if approved. If not approved, the chair will respond to the instructor. This new approval process has been implemented to ensure course enrollments are consistent with department policies, guidelines, and FERPA.

To ensure a smooth process for requesting user additions, please fill out the form completely and accurately. Our Blackboard administrator will process each approved request as quickly as possible and notify the requesting instructor and the enrollee once the user has been added to the course.

You can access the form here.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding about this important policy change. Please note that this protocol is mandatory, and any manual user additions to Blackboard courses are no longer permitted.

Don't hesitate to contact the EdTech team at EdTechSupport@hostos.cuny.edu or 718-319-7915 if you have any questions or concerns.



STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT (SDEM)

Submitted by VP La Toro Yates, Ph.D.

Admissions and Recruitment

The Office of Admissions and Recruitment collaborated with Continuing Education and Workforce Development, Financial Aid, and ASAP to promote our dynamic academic programs and student support services on Saturday, March 11. The event occurred in Lehman College’s Apex Gymnasium, with over 100 guests attending: high school students, college students, English language learners, and adult learners.

Accessibility Resource Center (ARC)

In collaboration with EdTech & CTL, ARC hosted a Blackboard Ally training for faculty and staff on March 7. The goal was to provide instruction and support to help Faculty become accessibility pros. The workshop covered accessibility issues in courses, why correcting them matters, and how to fix them.

Children’s Center, Inc.

The Hostos Community College Children’s offers student-parents access to a safe, nurturing, affordable, high-quality, educational learning environment for their children (infants and toddlers) while they pursue their studies. Children’s Center also provides mental health and well-being services for both children and parents. There are social workers for clinical services, play therapy for children, yoga for all age groups, assistance with special needs referrals, and more. The new infant and 1-year-old rooms are now open!

The Children’s Center is enrolling now. For more information, call 718-518-4209 or email pmartinez@hostos.cuny.edu.

Health & Wellness

One-Stop Program

Grab-and-go snacks are available for all Hostos students Monday through Friday at the Health & Wellness Center. For information, please contact Madeline Cruz at mcruz@hostos.cuny.edu or call 718-319-7891.

Student Leadership Academy



This past weekend, three of our Hostos students attended the Model Senate Conference in Albany. They participated in an intensive training program where they learned about New York State government, representation, and the legislative process. The program culminated with a trip to the State Capitol, where students debated public policy in the Senate Chamber and had the opportunity to compete for scholarships awarded by the NYS Assembly and Senate Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force. This conference is designed to provide participants from CUNY with a unique opportunity to develop leadership skills in a policy-making setting, emphasizing critical thinking, career readiness, and communication.

Student Success Coaching Unit

The Student Success Coaching Unit (SSCU) is excited to share that we are participating in Advisement Week from March 27 to 31. There will be various activities offered in person and online for all students to experience. Students should plan to attend in order to meet their assigned success coaches and set up appointments before enrollment for Fall 2022, which begins on April 4. At the event, they will learn more about the Nursing program and other related Allied Health majors, and review where to find their degree plans featuring recommended courses for next semester.

Office of Transfer Services

Have questions about transferring to a four-year school? Need help with your applications? Stop by our office or at one of our events below.

Transfer Talks

Join us and get help with your CUNY Transfer Applications

• Every Tuesday in C-512, from 12 - 1 PM

Walk-In Wednesdays

Come in and meet with a member of the Transfer Services Staff and get answers to your questions

• Every Wednesday in D-101-A, from 9 AM - 5 PM 

Thursday Transfer Tabling

Come and ask your Transfer questions

• Every Thursday in the A-Atrium, from 11:30 AM - 1 PM

Additional Events

Mark your calendars for the following events (some locations, times, and links pending):

• March 21: Understanding Pathways: What is the difference between AA, AS, and AAS degrees in the transfer process. Details coming soon. 
• March 23: Fordham University in the A-Atrium from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• March 28: Fill Out your CUNY Application. Just so you know, although the priority deadline was February 1, IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO COMPLETE IT!
• March 30: Meet a CUNY 4-Year Admissions Counselor! We will host a CUNY Transfer Fair in the A-Atrium from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. The following schools have been confirmed: City College, John Jay, Baruch, Hunter, CSI, York, School of Professional Studies, Lehman, Queens College, and Brooklyn College!



POEMS TO INSPIRE OUR COMMUNITY

Submitted by VP La Toro Yates, Ph.D.

"The Rose that Grew from Concrete"

By Tupac Shakur

Did you hear about the rose that grew

from a crack in the concrete?

Proving nature's law is wrong it

learned to walk without having feet.

Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams,

it learned to breathe fresh air.

Long live the rose that grew from concrete

when no one else ever cared.



ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE (ADM)

Submitted by SVP Esther Rodríguez-Chardavoyne

Environmental Health and Safety

While we have provided updates about the infrastructure projects occurring around the campus, there is work taking place that is not necessarily physically visible to the community but still vitally important. 

Marya Shuksta joined Hostos in early November last year as the Director of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). She has hit the ground running, ensuring that the campus environment complies with health and safety regulations.

She oversaw the CUNY Central EHS audit of the Hostos campus this past December and is now working with Facilities to address their findings. Regular meetings with CUNY Central EHS and other campuses educate her on priorities, practices, and concerns across the university.

Marya’s work touches upon every area of the Hostos campus. Some examples of her oversight include waste disposal at the cafeteria, testing lab equipment for safety training, mask fit testing for the Nursing department, and annual inspection of fire extinguishers. She has even had to escort some non-enrolled squirrels from the library, who had been looking for the book “Have You Seen My Nuts?” On top of all that, she is also the contact person for faculty and staff if they are experiencing COVID symptoms or have tested positive for COVID. 

With the many infrastructure projects that have begun or are in planning at Hostos, Marya has been involved in ensuring EHS regulatory compliance. She was part of the team that prepared the Children’s Center to meet Department of Education requirements to obtain their license to provide infant care. She is involved in the oversight of planned renovations in the B-building and has been responding to environmental assessment reports for the 429 Grand Concourse space..

As someone from outside CUNY, Marya has had to learn a lot about the campus and its myriad processes and systems and ensure a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff. She is currently being trained on the procurement processes and CUNYBuy, so wish her good luck!



CONTINUING EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (CEWD)

Submitted by VP Evelyn Fernández-Ketcham, Ph.D., LCSW

 CEWD’s Hostos55 Bingo Trivia

On Wednesday, March 8, the CEWD Vice President hosted “Bingo with a Twist” to help celebrate Hostos’ 55th anniversary.  It was a fun afternoon of bingo and games, including Hostos trivia. To read some of the Hostos trivia facts that were shared during the event, please click here. Forty-five (45) students, faculty, and staff attended the event, including members of the President’s Cabinet — Senior Vice President Esther Rodriguez-Chardavoyne, Vice President Colette Atkins, and Diana Kreymer, Executive Chief of Staff.

Over 75 prizes were awarded.  Prizes included items donated by various departments across the college. We would like to thank the Office of Academic Affairs, Athletics, Career Services, the Office of Communications, Conference Center, CUNY Edge, CUNY Fatherhood Academy, Duplicating, Facilities, Hostos Library, the President’s Office, Procurement, Receiving, Student Government Association (SGA), Student Activities, the Office of the Vice President of Institutional Advancement, and CEWD staff for helping make this event a success. This event would not have been possible without CEWD’s Melanie Garcia, who oversaw the arrangements and collaborated with colleagues across the College. Thank you, Ms. Garcia!

Recurring Announcements

CEWD’s Spring 2023 Catalog

It is available online here.

Virtual Information Sessions

To learn more about CEWD’s Spring 2023 program offerings, please attend one of the following upcoming Virtual Information Sessions:

• Saturday, March 18 at 11 AM
• Wednesday, March 22 at 6 PM
• Wednesday, April 5 at 6 PM
• Saturday, April 15 at 11 AM
• Wednesday, April 19 at 6 PM
• Wednesday, May 10 at 6 PM
• Saturday, May 20 at 11 AM
• Wednesday, May 24 at 6 PM

To register for a Virtual Information Session, go here.



INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT (DIA)

Submitted by VP Colette Atkins

The 55th Anniversary Gala is Fast Approaching!

The Hostos Community College Foundation will host the College’s 55th Anniversary Gala on Wednesday, April 26, at the Surf Club on the Sound in New Rochelle.

During the program, we will honor a beloved member of our Hostos family, Lecturer Cynthia Jones, with the Distinguished Professor Award. Professor Jones has taught at Hostos since the 1970s and joined the English department as a Lecturer in 1981. She was named New York State Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation in 2014 and received the Presidential Medal of Honor for Outstanding Faculty at Hostos’ 52nd Commencement Ceremony in 2022.

We hope that you are able to join us for this celebration of Hostos. Faculty, staff, and alumni may purchase discounted tickets for $250. Contact Vice President Colette Atkins at catkins@hostos.cuny.edu or Development Manager Idelsa Méndez at imendez@hostos.cuny.edu if you have any questions.

For further details or to secure tickets and sponsorships, please visit the website – www.HostosBenefit.com.

The Alumni Fund for Student Transfer Scholarships

The Office of Alumni Relations is pleased to announce the Hostos Alumni Fund for Student Transfer Scholarships. The intended fund gives alumni a way to honor the impact of their Hostos degree by providing empowering support to current students who want to further their academic careers at a four-year institution. If you’re an alum, consider making a gift toward the Hostos Alumni Fund for Student Transfer Scholarships using this link.



BRAVO NEWS

Celebrating the Accomplishments of the Hostos Community

Hostos President Daisy Cocco De Filippis Named One of the 100 Most Influential Higher Ed Leaders in New York

Hostos Community College President Daisy Cocco De Filippis was named in the 2023 Higher Education Power 100 list, compiled by City & State, the premier media organization dedicated to covering New York’s local and state politics and policy. The recognition, instituted in 2021, includes university officials making the biggest difference on and off campus through advocacy, social mobility initiatives, and community engagement.

“I am honored and grateful to be included in the City and State’s Higher Education Power 100, and especially to be named along with such an impressive list of distinguished and effective educators,” said Cocco De Filippis.

Read the entire press release here. 

Congratulations to Dean Ana García Reyes! 

Congratulations to our very own Dean of Community Relations, Ana García Reyes, who received an award in recognition for her work in higher education in New York at the SOMOS, Inc. Puerto Rican & Hispanic Task Force Conference celebrated in Albany last weekend. 

The accolade was granted by a committee composed of the SOMOS Assembly Chair, Hon. Karines Reyes, Hon. Amanda Septimo, Hon. Yudelka Tapia; Hon. Manny De Los Santos; and the Hon. George Alvarez, who nominated the dean for the Award. 

Also representing the Hostos community at Somos weekend, Vice President of CEWD, Dr. Evelyn Fernández-Ketcham, presented in a panel alongside García Reyes about current higher education issues. Bravi!



HOSTOS FOR EVERYONE

Free Services for the Community

Hostos Offers Free Preventive Dental Hygiene Services to the Public

For more information and scheduling, call 718-319-7943.



The appointment schedule is as follows: 

Mondays: 9 AM - 1 PM and 2 - 6 PM

Wednesdays: 8 AM - 12 PM and 2:30 - 6:30 PM

Fridays: 9 AM - 1 PM and 2 - 6 PM

Location: Hostos Dental Hygiene Patient Care Facility

500 Grand Concourse, Bronx NY 10451

B-Building 

The Dental Hygiene Patient Care Facility at Hostos Community College is a teaching unit that provides high-quality dental care, primarily cleanings and dental x-rays to the community, while adhering to the most current sterilization techniques. Several appointments will be needed and each may last three hours at a time.



Note: The clinic does not provide restorative dental work such as fillings, implants, etc.



EVENTS

Title: COUNSELING CENTER EVENT | Let’s Talk About It (In Collaboration with SGA)

Date | Time: Tuesday, March 21 | 3 - 4 PM 

Location: C-391

Description: This is a safe space for students to share their experiences and learn from each other while building community and encouraging mental wellness. Topics include: reconnecting at Hostos after isolation, focus and motivation (tips and challenges), and acknowledging and reducing stress.

Title: WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH | Afro-Latina Women in Letters and Music

Date | Time: Tuesday, March 21 | 3:30 - 4:45 PM

Location: TBD

Description: This event features poetry readings alongside musical and dance performances by the all-women ensemble Retumba. Q&A to follow for all. Organized by Prof. Inmaculada Lara-Bonilla and members of the Latin American Writers Institute (LAWI).

Title: WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH | Storytelling through Documentary Filmmaking: A Conversation with Tia Lessin

Date | Time: Wednesday, March 22 | 3:30 - 5 PM

Location: TBD

Description: This event will feature Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker Tia Lessin. In addition to featuring clips from her work, she will talk about her vibrant career, which includes working with Michael Moore, setting up her own company, and creating films like Trouble the Water (nominated for an Academy Award), Citizen Koch and her latest film, "The Janes." Moderated by Prof. Charles Rice González.

Title: Liberation Arts Collective – The Mix Vol. 2: Live at the Batey

Date | Time: Friday, March 24 | 7 PM

Location: Repertory Theater

Description: Join Arlene Chico-Lugo and Eric Aviles as they take the stage on March 24 with their newest creation, "The Mix Vol. 2: Live at the Batey.” They'll bring us an intimate and captivating performance filled with live sketches, music, dance, and video, including a hilarious and thought-provoking follow-up to their hit sketch about the imaginary boxing match between the USA and Puerto Rico. Reserve tickets at the HCAC box office here.

Title: Annette A. Aguilar & Stringbeans – Women in Latin Jazz Festival

Date | Time: Saturday, March 25 | 8 PM

Location: Main Theater

Description: Acclaimed percussionist Annette A. Aguilar celebrates the 2023 Women in Latin Jazz Festival with special guest artists Camille Thurman, Ariacne Trujillo, Catarina dos Santos, and Karina Jiménez. Join us to celebrate these powerhouse female musicians who collectively have shaped the sounds of Latin music, jazz, R&B, and rock! Reserve tickets at the HCAC box office here.

Title: WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH | Lucille Clifton (1936–2010) and her Body-Positive Poems: A Student-Led Reading and Discussion

Date | Time: Monday, March 27th | 3:30 - 4:45 PM 

Location: Zoom (link coming soon)

Description: Students will read poems by Lucille Clifton (1936–2010), whose work, informed by her Black identity, is known for celebrating women’s connections with their bodies in all forms, offering deep-reaching affirmations and generous acceptance. An open discussion will follow that responds to the poetry and related stories. Moderated by Prof. Jerilyn Fisher. 

Title: Strategic Plan Open Forum for Students

Date | Time: Tuesday, March 28 | 11 AM - 1 PM

Location: C-391

Title: Strategic Plan Open Forum for Faculty/Staff

Date | Time: Tuesday, March 28 | 3 - 5 PM

Location: Savoy Multi-Purpose Room

Title: Virtual Strategic Plan Open Forum for All

Date | Time: Thursday, March 30 | 11 AM - 12:30 PM

Location: Zoom (link coming soon)

Title: WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH | Dorothea Lange and Documentary. Photography: Recreating Women’s Role in Mid-Century America

Date | Time: Friday, March 31 | 11 AM - 12:15 PM

Location: Zoom (link coming soon)

Description: Dr. Carol Quirke, Professor in the American Studies Department at SUNY Old Westbury, will present material from her new book: Dorothea Lange, Documentary Photography, and Twentieth-Century America: Reinventing Self and Nation. Dorothea Lange is one of the most recognized documentary photographers of the twentieth century, and Dr. Quirke’s research shows how Lange’s photographs helped transform the nation. Moderated by Prof. Marcella Bencivenni.

Title: Xiomara Fortuna – The Queen of Afro-Caribbean Fusion

Date | Time: Saturday, April 1 | 8 PM

Location: Main Theater

Description: Xiomara Fortuna is the Dominican Republic’s queen of Afro-Caribbean fusion with over 40 years of visionary artistic work - fusing ancestral Caribbean music with rock, hip-hop, jazz, merengue, bachata, funk, reggae…and so much more! Performing new songs from her 17th and most recent album, “Eta que tú ves,” she will showcase - live on stage with drums, percussion, bass & vocals - the cultural richness of the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. Reserve tickets at the HCAC box office here.

Title: COUNSELING CENTER EVENT | Own Your Power Through Expression

Date | Time: Monday, April 3 | 3:30 - 5 PM 

Location: A-Building Atrium 

Description: An art gallery-style showcase reflecting the many ways individuals can choose and have chosen to "Own Your Power through Expression" to combat and bring awareness to all forms of sexual violence; featuring art displays, interactive stations, resources, and a performance by G!rl Be Heard as well as raffles and refreshments. In collaboration with ASAP, SDEM, SGA, SLA, OSA, Athletics, and the Bronx DA's Office - Enough is Enough.

Title: The History of Latin Music & Latin Jazz, Part XV – Hosted by Joe Conzo, Sr.

Date | Time: Every Saturday through April 22, 11 AM -1 PM

Location: Zoom

Description: Hosted by music historian Joe Conzo, Sr., “The History of Latin Music and Latin Jazz” is a free seminar series that highlights the diverse music pioneers and their impact on the history of Latin music and jazz. Learn about musicians and artists like Graciela, known as the First Lady of Latin Jazz, Celia Cruz, Olga Guillot, Gloria Estefan, Enrique Jorrín, Johnny Rodríquez, Julio Gutiérrez and many

others that helped create and influence the music of this time.

Title: “Black Resistance in the Workplace” featuring Chris Smalls

Date | Time: Tuesday, April 25 | 3:30 PM

Location: TBD

Title: 2023 Hostos Community College Foundation 55th Anniversary Gala

Date | Time: Wednesday, April 26, 2023 | Time: 6 PM

Location: Surf Club on the Sound in New Rochelle  

Title: “The Racialized Politics of Education in 2023” featuring CUNY Senior Vice Chancellor for Institutional Affairs, Strategic Advancement and Special Counsel Glenda Grace

Date | Time: Monday, May 8 | 11 AM

Location: TBD

ABOUT EL SEMANARIO HOSTOSIANO / THE HOSTOS WEEKLY

El Semanario Hostosiano / The Hostos Weekly is a communication vehicle designed to unite our multiple voices as we share news about members of the Hostos family, provide updates on our projects and upcoming events, and disseminate policy that impacts our work.  

Published on Fridays at 9 a.m.

For inclusion in The Hostos Weekly, please send your items to:

publicrelations@hostos.cuny.edu at least two weeks ahead of publication.

Please keep submissions to no more than two paragraphs of written content and note,

we are unable to add attachments to our publication.

Find the Spring 2023 Publishing Schedule for El Semanario Hostosiano here.

Past issues of El Semanario Hostosiano / The Hostos Weekly can be found here.

Look for The Hostos Weekly each Friday.