Documentary Director Carracedo at Latino Cultural Dinner Sept. 16

Award-winning documentary director and producer Almudena Carracedo will be the featured speaker at Illinois State University's 2009 Latino Cultural Dinner, Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. in the Bone Student Center Brown Ballroom.  She will speak on "Building Bridges and Creating Community Across Racial, Social and Economic Boundaries."

Carracedo directed and produced the Emmy award-winning documentary Made in L.A.  The film follows the lives of three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles garment sweatshops as they strive to gain basic labor protections from the trendy clothing retailer Forever 21.

Tickets for the event will be on sale from Friday, Aug. 28 through Friday, Sept. 11.  The cost is $12 for Illinois State students, faculty and staff and $15.25 for community members.  Illinois State meal plan participants can purchase a ticket for one meal charge.  Tickets are available at the Marketplace at Linkins, Southside in Feeney and Watterson Commons dining centers.

The dinner will feature TexMex cuisine prepared by Campus Dining Services Executive Chef Phil Cade and musical entertainment will be provided by Frontera.  Instructors from Chicago's Dance Academy of Salsa will be on hand to teach Salsa, Merengue, Bachata and Cha cha cha dance moves. 

The event is sponsored by the Latin American and Latino Studies Program, College of Arts and Sciences, Fell Trust, Diversity Advocacy, Women and Gender Studies Program, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Milner Library, Campus Dining Services, University Housing Services, Association of South Campus, South Unity and the Association of Residence Halls.