Read biographies of featured guests for "Defining Latinx" Webinar to be held tomorrow at 3pm CST.
Dr. Sylvia Martinez, Associate Professor, Indiana University, Co-Author "Understanding the Latinx Experience: Developmental and Contextual Influences"
Sylvia Martinez is an Associate Professor at Indiana University, jointly appointed in the department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, and the Latino Studies Program. Broadly, her research focuses on the K-16 Latinx educational pipeline and Latinx ethnic identity development.
She is the co-author of the recently published book, Understanding the Latinx Experience: Developmental and Contextual Experiences (2019, Stylus Publishing).
Jorge Valdivia, Art Consultant & Curator
Jorge Valdivia is a Chicago native who grew up in La Villita, a Mexican-American enclave on the city’s Southwest Side. Valdivia is an arts consultant with a special focus on curating performing arts festivals and events. His work has led him to work with organizations like the National Museum of Mexican Art. There he serves as the performing arts consultant where he is the lead curator of the Sor Juana Festival, celebrating the artistic accomplishments of Mexican women. This is the only festival in the country with such a unique scope and focus. His work has earned the National Museum of Mexican Art a reputation as a leading presenter of Mexican/Latinx performing artists.
Valdivia is also a consultant and co-curator of the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA). There he co-curates their work with Mexican theater. He also developed their social ambassadors program and helped increase visibility of Destinos Fest between 300 - 1500%. By supporting the entire CLATA team, Valdivia has helped make Destinos Fest one of most reputable Latinx theater festivals in the country.
Prior to his work as a consultant, Valdivia served as General Manager of Radio Arte•WRTE 90.5FM and as Director of Performing Arts for the National Museum of Mexican Art.
In 2002, Valdivia founded Homofrecuencia, the country’s first Spanish-language radio program to focus on LGBT issues. Two years later, Valdivia and the producers of Homofrecuencia continued to break new ground by organizing and sponsoring the first prom for queer prom in Chicago, creating a critical safe space for young people who have been routinely ostracized from “traditional” high school dances.
Today, Queer Prom has become an annual event at the National Museum of Mexican Art serving between 200-350 young people every year. Valdivia’s leadership and dedication to the launch of these initiatives have empowered a new generation of LGBTQ youth to define their own identities and to position themselves at the forefront of the LGBTQ rights movement.
In 2009, Valdivia was honored by the Mayor’s Commission on Human Relations and inducted into Chicago’s Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame for his work with Latinx LGBTQ youth and bring visibility to the Latino LGBTQ community through media and arts.
Since 2013, Valdivia has served as Ambassador of the Chicago Community Trust’s On The Table campaign helping bring visibility to the annual forum designed to elevate civic conversation, foster new relationships and create a unifying experience across the region.
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