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About CLACS
The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) serves students, faculty and scholars from across the University of Illinois campus, along with communities across Illinois and the Midwest, by promoting innovative research, specialist teaching, and public awareness of the Latin American and Caribbean region. CLACS is a designated National Resource Center for the 2022-2026 period, supported by the Department of Education under Title VI funding.
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“A Week of Remembrance: 50 Years Since the Argentine Military Coup”
The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies invites you to A Week of Remembrance: 50 Years Since the Argentine Military Coup, a series of events reflecting on the legacy of Argentina’s 1976 dictatorship and the ongoing work of memory, justice, and human rights. This week of programming serves as the culminating event of the spring series Shifting Landscapes in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Programming includes the screening of the film "Norita", a discussion with producer Andrea Tortonese, a Spanish-language book club featuring Sálvate Vos with author Juan Carrá, and a conversational lunch space for informal dialogue in Spanish.
The series will conclude with a talk by special guest Mayki Gorosito, former Executive Director of the ESMA Memory Site Museum, one of Argentina’s most important sites of memory. Her talk will reflect on 50 years since the coup, offering insights into the management of memory institutions and the evolving landscape of public memory policies in Argentina. Translation will be available for this event.
Upcoming Events
Title
COME LEARN QUECHUA! HAMUYCHIK RUNASIMI YACHARIKUQ!
Quechua is the most widely spoken Indigenous language in the Americas, with 8–9 million speakers across six Andean countries. Learning Quechua offers valuable insight into Indigenous heritage, Andean worldviews, and linguistic structure. It’s especially useful for researchers, educators, and professionals working in the region.
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LEARN Q'ANJOB'AL WITH US! TITAN HAKUY Q'ANJOB'AL JETOQ!
Q’anjob’al is a living Maya language spoken in Guatemala and growing communities in the U.S. Studying it opens the door to understanding Mesoamerican Indigenous heritage, Maya worldviews, and cultural practices. It’s especially valuable for educators, researchers, and professionals working with Maya communities.
Q'anjob'al Language and the Community (Spring Last 395)
This course is an introduction to the Mayan language and community of Guatemala known as Q’anjob’al. It is designed to provide students with an overview of the Q’anjob’al speakers and their complex everyday sociocultural interactions.
Beginning Q'anjob'al II (LAST 445)
This course continues the development of basic speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, with an emphasis on everyday communication and cultural context within Q’anjob’al–speaking communities.
Beginner Quechua II (QUEC 411)
Continuation of intensive course for beginner level Quechua. Expansion on developing basic listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in Quechua. Emphasis on production and comprehension skills. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours
Que Pasa in Latin America? (LAST 170)
Introduction to Latin America offers an interdisciplinary introduction to the ways of life of Latin American peoples, their origins, historical legacies, and current cultural expressions.
Life in the Andes (LAST 210, CRN 72623)
An overview of contemporary Andean culture, as practiced by the people in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador.
Archaeology Field School in Peru (LAST 395)
This course is an archaeological field school where students will have the opportunity to engage in innovative original research at the archaeological site of Cerro Blanco, a Chancay Administrative Center located in central Peru.
Spatial theories from/with the Caribbean (ARCH 403)
THE CARIBBEAN has long been rendered peripheral in architectural history and theory. This seminar instead approaches it as an affective ground for rethinking space altogether.