June Celebration of Resiliency 2021

Important Update:

Due to the extreme heat advisory and the potential for thunderstorms on Friday, we will be moving the event indoors. All of our staff have been diligent with maintaining safety protocols and following MDH recommendations, especially guidance for events, and the Celebration of Resiliency is no different. However, we understand that some of our guests may have felt more comfortable attending the event in-person when the plan was to hold it outdoors. Please rest assured we will still be livestreaming the celebration for those who wish to participate remotely. While we will miss chatting and enjoying some delicious food with you, the safety of the community is our highest priority!

FYI, our building has air conditioning to help keep you cool!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to El Colegio's Executive Director, Katie Groh de Aviña, by phone at 612-728-5728 or via email at avina@el-colegio.org

Thank you so much for your support, and we look forward to celebrating with you on Friday!

You are cordially invited to attend El Colegio's Annual Celebration of Resiliency breakfast. This year we will be celebrating the successes of our students during a year of turbulence: the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the civil unrest.

Sparked: George Floyd, Racism, and the Progressive Illusion features an essay that captures some of this turbulence and resilience. In her contribution "Brown Minnesota," Bianet Castellanos reflects on the racial inequities that have shaped Latinos/as/x lives in Minnesota. She shares her experiences working with El Colegio's staff and students to address these disparities.

In 2020 and 2021, twenty-two students graduated high school despite all the challenges and changes they needed to adapt to. And despite those challenges, 100% of our graduates have been accepted into at least one post-secondary institution, many of whom have been accepted into a four-year college!

We invite you to join us as we acknowledge the work and accomplishments of our youth, over a delicious breakfast catered by Flavors of Peru at El Colegio High School.

This will be an outdoor event--under a nice, shady tent! However we will be prepared to move indoors if the forecast predicts inclement weather or a heat advisory. For those who are unable to join us in person, we will also be livestreaming the event as well.

We look forward to celebrating with you the strength and resiliency our young change-makers have shown during this especially trying year.

A heartfelt thank-you to the University of Minnesota's Department of American Studies for sponsoring this event!