The Maya Maiz Roots Conference with Roberto Rodriguez, PhD

Roberto Rodríguez, PhD discussed the upcoming Maya Maiz Root Conference that he is coordinating which will take place in Arizona from April 24-28. The event will feature 15 Maya scholars who will teach their culture, history, and philosophy at Arizona State University, Pima Community College, and The University of Arizona.
Maya educator, singer, and radio host Yasmin Novelo will be in Tucson on March 1 at La Indita to promote the upcoming conference at Maya Maiz Rap Artist meet & Greet and Art Auction.
Roberto Rodríguez, PhD – or Dr. Cintli – is an associate professor in the Mexican American Studies Department at the University of Arizona. His research focus at the University of Arizona is on Maiz culture on this continent, which includes its relationship to the Ethnic Studies controversies nationwide. He teaches classes on the history of maiz, Mexican/Chicano/Chicana culture and politics and the history of red-brown journalism.
He has coordinated this conference within a context of an Ethnic Studies struggle where Mexican American Studies and their teaching of indigenous Maya-Nahua cultures were legislated against by the State of Arizona. Along with the many educational activities, there will be a Maya Maiz exhibit at the YWCA and a Maíz food festival in front of the Arizona State Museum. There will also be cultural exchanges, teacher training, a special session on Indigenous and migrant women, a session for parents, story-telling for children, poetry, spoken word, hip hop and a concert. Also, there will be special presentations by K-12 students and undergraduate and graduate students from Arizona during these 5 days. Registration will be required, but entrance will be no charge, though all will be asked to donate. Tax-deductible donations to the UA Foundation are being accepted here. An art auction to support the event s can be found here. More information is available from Roberto Rodríguez at rodrigu7@email.arizona.edu or (520) 626-0824. Recorded and produced by Amanda Shauger.