The Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration

Uprooted by civil war, violence and uneven development, large numbers of Central Americans came to Los Angeles during the 1980s
but were denied refugee status. Although greeted with hostility, they persevered. Through struggle, and coordinated work with new
allies, they mobilized and many Salvadorans and Guatemalans integrated into life in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., San Francisco,
Houston and elsewhere in the United States.
At this event, we will honor two pioneering scholar activists, Professors Nora Hamilton and Norma Chinchilla, who helped set in
motion the field of Central American immigration studies with their book, Seeking Community in a Global City. The event will feature
presentations by current researchers and advocates of Central American immigrant communities, and will focus the on-going
struggles to secure legalization and comprehensive educational and labor rights.
On February 26th at 2pm we invite you to join us for a public forum on Central American immigration. This event is free and open to
the public.
The Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration (CSII) combines data analysis, academic
scholarship, and civic engagement to support improved economic mobility for, enhanced
civic participation by, and receiving society openness to immigrants.
For more information visit us on the web at http://csii.usc.edu or email us at csii@usc.edu.
Central American Immigration:
Honoring Pioneers & Charting New Paths
Wednesday,
February 26, 2014
Panel: 2:00 PM - 3:30 p.m.
Reception: 3:30 - 5:00 PM
University Club,
Scriptorium Room, USC
RSVP NOW!
http://bit.ly/CentralAmerican
Moderated by:
Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo, Professor, USC Department of
Sociology
Honorees:
Nora Hamilton, University of Southern California
Norma Chinchilla, California State University Long Beach
Featured Speakers:
Jennifer Carcamo, Documentary Filmmaker, Children of the Diaspora
Susan Coutin, University of California Irvine
Cecilia Menjivar, Arizona State University
Carlos Vaquerano, Salvadoran American Leadership and Educational Fund
(SALEF)
Image Migration of the Golden People CARECEN 2002 Judy Baca Courtesy of SPARC www.sparcmurals.org. The City Project/Flickr
Co-sponsored by USC Departments and Organizations: American Studies & Ethnicity, El Centro Chicano, Political Science and Sociology.