What Will Your Story Be?
What you do on campus and how you get involved in our communities is entirely up to you. Every year begins with the networking event Weaving New Beginnings, where you can find opportunities and a community to support you. Do you want to focus on building strong relationships through a program focused on succeeding at the UO? Or maybe you want to be involved in celebrating legacy and cultural heritage through major events on campus. Whatever your interests are, there are opportunities and a community for you. You get to choose how your successful college experience is defined. The Multicultural Events and Programming team is here to help you get there.
Multicultural Events and Programs
Throughout the year there are a variety of events and programs hosted by students and community members focused on sharing experiences and discussions around culture and heritage with the campus community.
Weaving New Beginnings
A networking reception to welcome new students, faculty, and staff of color. This event has kicked off our fall term for more than 25 years and has become an exciting campus tradition. All are welcome.
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
Every year the campus comes together to celebrate the lasting legacy of Dr. King's work. With award celebrations, a community march, service project, and a keynote speaker this celebration brings our community together to honor our shared vision to continue moving forward and pays tribute to the individuals who have bravely stood for justice and peace.
Raices Unida Youth Conference
Latinx high schoolers from around the state of Oregon gather for a full-day conference to connect with each other and learn about access to higher education.
Heritage and History Events
During Heritage and History Months, students, faculty, and staff come together to celebrate the stories, cultures, traditions, and experiences of various cultures.
DOS Multicultural Events and Programming Team Hours
Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Creating a common dialogue
The Office of the Dean of Students Multicultural Events and Programming team provides a place where all students are welcome to meet, plan, and help create a stronger community. It is a place that helps you connect with students of all races and backgrounds to collaborate around cultural programming and education. Our team collaborates on several events and celebrations throughout the year.
Resources
The Division of Student Life—as well as many offices and programs in the Division of Equity and Inclusion—work closely with a number of campus services to connect you with resources, services, and community. Below are a number of resources you might find helpful.
Events
3:00–7:00 p.m.
Join us for Language Circles this spring term at the Mills International Center every Monday from 3-7 p.m. PT!
Language Circles are conversation groups led by native and/or proficient speakers. Students of all levels can learn and practice languages through informal conversation.
The Mills International Center space is open to ALL students, faculty and guests, U.S. and international!
Circle times:
3pm: Korean, Vietnamese
4pm: Russian, Japanese, Portuguese
5pm: German, Italian, English, Arabic
6pm: Spanish, French, Thai
Circle times may be subject to change. All updates will be posted to our Instagram @uomills and in our space, Mills International Center, EMU M102.
4:00–5:30 p.m.
Roots and Rhythms: A Conversation on Afrodescendencia, Indigenous Heritage, and Community Empowerment in Mexico and Puerto Rico
April 29 / 4PM-5:30PM / Lawrence 115
Join us for a research colloquium as we delve into the intersections of Afrodescendencia, Indigenous heritage, and community empowerment in Mexico and Puerto Rico.
Alai Reyes-Santos (Professor of Practice, UO School of Law) and Abigayle Mitchell (Grad Student, UO School of Law) will present their research on La Piedra del Sapo, a significant Indigenous site in Puerto Rico. They'll explore how this site can facilitate meaningful engagement with the past and shape sustainable futures for the people of Cidra and the Puerto Rican diaspora.
Abraham Landa (Grad Student, Ethnomusicology) will share his research project, "Black Mexico: Music, Dance, and the Construction of Afrodescendencia in Costa Chica." This project examines the performance of African music and dance in Costa Chica, Mexico, and how Afro-Mexican communities use cultural expressions to claim historical presence and cultural recognition.
This event provides a platform for CLLAS-funded researchers to share their findings and engage in a broader conversation about the significance of these topics. We hope to see you there!
noon
“‘Girls should be like this’: Impacts of Beauty Standards on Adolescent Girls in Goa, India” — Body dissatisfaction is a well-established risk factor for eating disorders, depression, and substance use, especially during adolescence. Body dissatisfaction is unusually prevalent among Indian adolescent girls—a high concern considering India is home to one-fifth of the world’s adolescent population (25 years or younger). Yet what we currently know about body dissatisfaction in India mainly comes from research with adults in urban areas using quantitative methods.
In this talk, CSWS research fellow Sammy Plezia highlights findings from one-on-one interviews with Indian adolescent girls aged 13–17 years in the culturally diverse state of Goa, a former Portuguese colony composed of semi-urban and rural villages. Plezia interviewed 19 girls in three languages in the summer of 2024. Their perspectives on gender differences in beauty expectations, sources of body appreciation, and weight-based bullying will be discussed, alongside findings about their preferences for forthcoming mental health interventions.
Plezia is a second-year counseling psychology PhD student whose research focuses on eating disorders and global mental health. She previously attended Brown University, earning her bachelor’s degree in public health and Hispanic studies, and worked as a Fulbright-Nehru research fellow at Sangath in Goa, India.
noon
Preserving Latinx Stories: A Conversation with NPR's VP of Research, Archives, and Strategy Laura Soto-Barra
April 30 / 12pm-1pm / Zoom
Join us for a virtual conversation with Laura Soto-Barra, NPR's Vice President of Research, Archives, and Strategy. Learn about NPR's archival work, the significance of preserving Latinx stories from the 1980s, and efforts to digitize and preserve Latinx voices. Moderated by Chris Chávez, CLLAS Director.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN VIA ZOOM
2:00–4:00 p.m.
Want a place to relax, get creative, and meet new people in between classes? Come Chill in the Mills! Chill in the Mills is a weekly event where we host a new craft activity every Wednesday this Spring Term 2025 in the Mills International Center from 2pm-4pm. All supplies are FREE and provided by the Mills! Check out the schedule posted below and on our Instagram @uomills to make sure you don’t miss out on any exciting crafts! The Mills International Center and its events are open to all UO students, faculty, staff, and community members. We hope to see you there!
Our craft schedule for the term:
Week 2, April 9th: Mini Canvas Painting
Week 3, April 16th: Bunny Keychains
Week 4, April 23th: Coaster Painting
Week 5, April 30th: Popin' Cookin'
Week 6, May 7th: Mini Pot Painting
Week 7, May 14th: Beaded Bracelet
Week 8, May 21st: Mini Tote Bags
Week 9, May 28th: Butterfly Suncatchers
Week 10, June 4th: CD Painting
