Abya Yala Project

In Fall 2024, the Abya Yala Project was awarded funds through the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences’ Big Ideas Grant.

The Dresher Center for the Humanities joined the project as administrator.

Faculty Facilitators: Thania Muñoz (Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication); Tania Lizarazo (Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication and Global Studies); Yolanda Valencia (Geography and Environmental Systems); and María Célleri (Gender, Women’s + Sexuality Studies)

Project Statement: Abya Yala is one of the Indigenous names for the Americas. As decolonial Latin Americanists, we are committed to community-building scholarship that does not center on one single language, nationality, or field of study. As a first step in what we hope becomes an established community space, we propose publishing an open-source edited volume about Latinx presence in the DMV area. The volume will be elaborated in a series of events, including a workshop, a writing retreat, and a local conference to build momentum about the ongoing collaboration between Latinx faculty, students, and community members. In the process, we envision creating/strengthening support networks among our growing Latinx campus community.

 

View Past Events

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Center for Ethics and Values presents: Diffused Eroticisms: Love, Friendship, and Bisexuality in the Writings of Iris Murdoch

A Dresher Center Partner Event

Location

Fine Arts : Recital Hall

Date & Time

September 8, 2026, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Description

Please join the Center for Ethics and Values for the first public forum of the semester: Diffused Eroticisms: Love, Friendship, and Bisexuality in the Writings of Iris Murdoch Miles Leeson,...

Department of English presents Sights and Sounds of Senegal, Land of Teranga: Film Screening

A Dresher Center Partner Event

Location

Library and Gallery, Albin O. Kuhn

Date & Time

September 9, 2026, 4:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Description

Join the Department of English on September 9, 2026 from 4-7:30pm for a film screening of two films directed by Senegalese directors. Refreshments will be provided! Atlantiques (2009, dir. by...

Deparment of English present Sights and Sounds of Senegal, Land of Teranga: Performances

A Dresher Center Partner Event

Location

The Commons : Terrace

Date & Time

September 11, 2026, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Description

Join the Department of English on September 11, 2026 from 11:30am-1:30pm for a performances to celebrate Senegalese culture. Performances: Amadou Kouyate is the 150th generation of the Kouyate...

Indigenomicon: American Indians, Video Games, and the Structures of Dispossession

Humanities Forum with Jodi Byrd

Location

Library and Gallery, Albin O. Kuhn

Date & Time

October 6, 2026, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Description

Part of our Fall 2026 Humanities Forum Indigenomicon: American Indians, Video Games, and the Structures of Dispossession Settler colonial studies and Indigenous studies are often assumed to be...
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Department of English presents - In Search of Phillis Wheatley Peters: A screening & discussion with filmmaker Leslie Askew

A Dresher Center Partner Event

Location

Fine Arts : Recital Hall

Date & Time

October 6, 2026, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Description

In Search of Phillis Wheatley Peters is a 35-minute short film that reveals the little-known love story of Phillis Wheatley —America’s first published Black poet—and John Peters, a free Black man...

Spell Freedom: The Story of the Underground Schools that Built the Civil Rights Movement

A Dresher Center Partner Event

Location

Fine Arts : Recital Hall

Date & Time

October 14, 2026, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Description

The UMBC Shriver Center, School of Education, and Community Leadership Programs invite you to join them for a conversation with author Elaine Weiss and UMBC’s Dr. Brandon Beck! Spell Freedom:...