ECC's Global Speaker Series to explore Latino history in Elgin and beyond Feb. 23

On Wednesday, Feb. 23, Elgin Community College will host a Bill Pelz Global Speaker series titled "The History of Latinos in Elgin and Beyond" from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

This series is sponsored by the ECC Global/International Studies Taskforce.

This event is free and open to the public. For the Zoom link, go to elgin.edu/calendar/

The featured panelist for the event will be ECC faculty member Antonio Ramirez, Ph.D., associate professor of history. Ramirez teaches courses in U.S. history, Latinx history, and American government.

Ramirez has worked as a journalist, educator, and community organizer across the Midwest and Mexico.

He currently directs the Chicagolandia Oral History Project which documents the history of the lives, work, and culture of Latinx suburban communities around Chicago with support for the Mello Foundation, the Grand Victoria Foundation, and Illinois Humanities.

His written work has appeared in the Harvard Journal of Hispanic Policy, The Nation, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and other publications.

The Bill Pelz Global Speaker Series was named in memory of the late William Pelz, Ph.D., who taught history and political science at ECC for more than 19 years.

The event will be moderated by Global/International Studies Taskforce co-chairs, Christina Marrocco, Ph.D., associate professor of English and Lauren Nehlsen, Ph.D., associate dean, recruitment and outreach services and Center for Global Engagement.