/ Hispanic Studies/ Cultural Bridges - Connecting Cultures

Cultural Bridges - Connecting Cultures

November 07, 2025

Lewis & Clark college students

Mahatma Gandhi International School students

Students from SPAN 251 and SPAN 351 at Lewis & Clark College participated in an enriching cultural exchange with students from Mahatma Gandhi Bilingual School in Villa Mercedes, San Luis, Argentina.

During this first Cultural Bridges session, students introduced themselves and shared aspects of their daily lives, school experiences, interests, and preferences—spending 30 minutes communicating in English and 30 minutes in Spanish. The event fostered language development, intercultural awareness, and meaningful dialogue between both groups.

The exchange was led by Prof. Darío Mastelone from Mahatma Gandhi School and Lic. Camila Palacio, Cultural Ambassador of Argentina, Fulbright Scholar, and Spanish Language Assistant at Lewis & Clark College, who also teaches the intermediate and advanced Spanish conversation courses.

Special thanks to Principal María Elena Gurruchaga of Mahatma Gandhi School and Dr. Freddy Vilches, Head of the Spanish Section at Lewis & Clark College, for their support in making this collaboration possible.

Through initiatives like Cultural Bridges, students continue to strengthen connections across borders, building understanding through language, respect, and shared learning.

Rabasa Honored Again: Continuing the Legacy of Inclusion and Advocacy

Magalí Rabasa Honored with 2026 Kristi Williams Staff & Faculty Award

For the second time in four years, Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies Magalí Rabasa has been recognized for her unwavering commitment to student advocacy and social justice.

Inclusive Technology

Scholar Helps Build a ChatGPT for Latin America

Freddy Vilches partners with Chile’s National Center for Artificial Intelligence on the creation of a Latin America-focused chatGPT and an AI translator of Indigenous languages.

“Tren de Aragua: A Gang, Not Terrorist Invaders” by Elliott Young

LC Professor of History Elliott Young has an informative article published by The North American Congress on Latin America entitled, “Tren de Aragua: A Gang, Not Terrorist Invaders,” which examines immigrant rights and how the current administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to target Venezuelan migrants relies on a false narrative about gangs and the Venezuelan state.

The North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1966 to examine and critique U.S. imperialism and political, economic, and military intervention in the Western hemisphere. In an evolving political and media landscape, we continue to work toward a world in which the nations and peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean are free from oppression, injustice, and economic and political subordination.

Elliott Young is professor of history at Lewis & Clark College and the author of “Forever Prisoners: How the United States Made the World’s Largest Immigrant Detention System.”

Gender Studies writing award call for papers

We are announcing the call for papers for our 18th annual Dorothy Berkson writing award in gender studies for graduating seniors!

Submissions are not limited to gender studies minors or courses - any field of study is welcomed, as long as gender is central to the work, and must be accompanied by a faculty recommendation.

Submissions will be accepted now through Friday, March 6th, at 5 pm.

Students, please use this Google form for student submissions

Faculty, please use this Google form for faculty recommendations