It is our pleasure to invite you to CUNY's Sixth Diversity Dialogue!
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, UHR is honored to host Dr. Javier Ávila’s dynamic show, The Trouble with My Name. This high-octane, poignant, and hilarious one-man show The Trouble with My Name consolidates Ávila’s talents as a poet and professor. It is a tour-de-force that will make audiences laugh, cry, and embrace the autobiographical journey of a man who moves between cultures to provide a fascinating perspective of American Latinos who struggle to dispel misconceptions about their identity and place in the world. The Trouble with My Name examines the issues of language, race, and social justice in an eye-opening performance where Ávila engages the audience as he tells the story of his life and reads poetry that illustrates what it means to be the American of the future. Ávila’s show breaks barriers and embraces the diversity of a nation whose history is rich and colorful. The message transcends boundaries of race, ethnicity, and geography. It is a show not to be missed..
Javier Ávila is a professor of English as well as a poet, novelist, and public speaker. He writes in both English and Spanish, and his work has earned him numerous awards, including his most recent honor as the recipient of the Cultural Arts Award given by the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education. In 2015, he was named Pennsylvania’s Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation. This award inspired Javier to take his classroom to the masses, using the power of poetry and storytelling to deliver a powerful message about unity and inclusion. Thus, The Trouble with My Name was born.
The Diversity Dialogues will take place in-person and virtually on October 18, 2023, 11:30AM – 1:00PM.
Technology Center, 395 Hudson Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10014
(This event is open to all CUNY employees. In-person space is limited, and preference will be given to Central Office employees. Hors d'oeuvres to be served.)
The deadline to register for in-person attendance is Tuesday, October 10, 2023.
Please register your planned attendance here.
The deadline to register for virtual attendance is Tuesday, October 17, 2023.
Please register your planned attendance here.
