Artists sought to contribute to La Casa Latina design

In preparation for the June 2011 grand opening of the La Casa Latino student success center, the building committee is seeking one or more artists from the Portland State community to create an installation representative of “a student’s journey through education and beyond.” 

The chosen artist or group will be given a $5,000 stipend to purchase materials and will have until June 10, 2011 to complete the project. Eligible contenders must be either a faculty member or a student at PSU.

According to Mark Wubbold, special assistant to the vice president of finance and administration, a task force that was assembled by PSU President Wim Wiewel recommended a permanent center to provide support services to Latino students on campus, much like the Native American Community Center.

A project of these proportions involves an outpouring of community support and a fundraising effort that could take years, Wubbold said.  

In the meantime, the committee is focusing on opening a temporary space in Smith Memorial Student Union’s Multicultural Center.  

The construction of the building is part of a larger initiative known as Éxito, which was announced by Wiewel in October. The initiative aims to reach out to the growing

Latino population at PSU and in Portland, and to provide them with the tools for academic success. 

PSU’s Chief Diversity Officer Jilma Meneses spoke about her vision for the space. 

“The center will be a place of learning, socializing and reflecting,” she said. “Our goal is to also have study sessions, mentoring sessions and workshops on a monthly basis.”

In addition, the center will have the latest technology, such as a polyvision board, computer stations and Internet access.

According to Meneses, Éxito is also launching a “Student-to-Student Outreach” campaign in an effort to bolster PSU’s recruitment efforts among the Latino community.

Éxito is currently seeking PSU student groups to visit high schools and middle schools in their respective communities outside.   

“These students will discuss how education is a tool for success and how education can also be a tool that can break the cycle of poverty, violence and oppression.” Meneses said.   

According to Meneses, the campaign will not only involve the visits, but will be the start of a relationship with potential future students that will extend into their college career. The group will continue the discussions after the visits through social media, gatherings and

mentoring.   

“We hope many Spanish-speaking students will join us in this collective effort,”

Meneses said. ?