By Kendell Hollowell |
On Tuesday, April 30th the Adams State University Office of Title V Grant Initiatives hosted Molina Speaks: a writer, poet, professor, and filmmaker. The event took place in the Carson Auditorium located in the Student Union Building north end at 5:30 PM. The event was free and open to everyone in the public. Molina’s presentation was entitled SPEAK (Standing Proud for Equality and Knowledge.) He spoke about the intersectionality, colorism and inclusivity seen in the 2018 movie “The Hate U Give.” Molina also discussed how to confront difficult issues that surround the San Luis Valley and the Hispanic culture. There was also a reading from his anthology, “Lyrical Meditations of Molina Speaks, 2007-2019.” He used his anthology as starting points for various topics he discussed and to tell his own personal stories.
Molina Speaks spends a lot of time working with students to help them develop their imaginations and creativity. He currently leads the Youth On Record Fellowship program, which is a music education and professional development initiative for emerging artists that are between the ages of 18-23. “As someone who is very invested in music, I really appreciate what Molina is doing for people my age,” said sophomore Lafi Skipps. Recently, Molina’s program earned recognition for being the Best Place to Find the Future of the Music Business. Molina spends a lot of time inspiring the youth but also performs his own music and poetry as a member of the Chicano Afrobeat Orchestra; Pink Hawks; and Roots, Rice, and Beans.
Adams State University qualifies to compete and receive Title V grant funding under the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, and Hispanic-Serving Institutions Division. Adams meets the criteria with 47 percent of students having an ethnic background and 32 percent being Hispanic. “Being a Hispanic student here at Adams State, I am very grateful for the opportunities these grants provide for my education,” said junior Dominic Archuleta. Over the last 17 years, Adams State has received a number of Title V awards in individual and cooperative grants. ASU and its institutional partners have awarded four five-year comprehensive grants to expand educational opportunities and to improve the attainment of Hispanic and low-income students.
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