Latin American, Latino, and Caribbean Center at CCSU

10/13/2026

The LALCC proudly congratulates Reinaliz Oquendo and Inez Vera on being recognized for their leadership, service, and dedication to the City of New Britain!👏

Reinaliz Oquendo is a Puerto Rican, first generation Central alumna and a former LALCC student worker. Since childhood, she has been deeply committed to helping children throughout New Britain and Connecticut reach their full educational potential. Today, Reinaliz continues this mission as a teacher, supporting, educating, and empowering students to succeed.

Inez Vera is a Puerto Rican, first generation Central alumna and the current Director of the Academic Center for Student Athletes at CCSU. In her role, she oversees academic support for NCAA Division I student athletes and is passionate about advocating for and supporting college students throughout their academic journeys.

The LALCC is incredibly proud to have nominated Reinaliz and Inez for this well deserved recognition during Hispanic Heritage Month. Their dedication to education, community, and student success exemplifies the positive impact of Latino leadership in our community.

10/01/2026

The late Latino sociologist Gilberto Cardenas is being honored with a student-curated exhibit at Central Connecticut State University for Hispanic Heritage Month.

09/21/2026

Photos from the Perspectivas: In Honor of Gilberto Cárdenas exhibit reception and gallery talk with Dr. Claudia Zapata!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for either event! We are incredibly lucky and honored to have known and worked with Dr. Gilberto Cárdenas and his wife, Dolores García, and to have helped bring many of these incredible works of art to the LALCC as gifts before his passing. This exhibit is a dedication to both of them and to their lasting contributions to the arts and our community.

A special thank you to the Chen Art Gallery, our undergraduate student curators, Dr. Anthony De Jesus and Dr. Madeline Perez-De Jesus, the University of Saint Joseph Art Museum, the featured artists who generously donated pieces to the exhibit, Mayor Bobby Sanchez of New Britain for his support, and everyone else who contributed in any way to the creation of this beautiful exhibition.

We are so grateful to everyone who helped make Perspectivas possible!

The exhibit is free and open to the public for viewing through Friday, October 2. We hope you’ll stop by and experience this beautiful collection before it closes!

09/15/2026

Join us as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in New Britain! Throughout September and October, the City will recognize the culture, heritage, history, and contributions of New Britain’s Hispanic and Latino communities with three special events.

The celebration begins tomorrow, September 16, with the Hispanic Heritage Flag Raising at 3:00 PM in Central Park, followed by the Latino Heritage Through Student Art & History Reception on September 23, made possible through a collaboration with the Latin American, Latino, and Caribbean Center at CCSU and the CCSU History Department. The celebration will conclude with the City Hall Open House on October 8.

More information on each event will be shared soon. All are welcome to join!

09/13/2026

What a wonderful time marching in the CICD Puerto Rican Day parade with LALCC students, Community Engagement, Central President Zulma Toro, Mayor Robert Bobby Sanchez, State Rep Jessica Vargas and many others. We got wet, but it was fun! Thank you to everyone!

09/09/2026

09/03/2026

Perspectivas: In Honor of Gilberto Cárdenas” brings Latino art to the Chen Art Gallery through the eyes of three Central student curators, exploring culture, family, migration, justice, and more💙🔱

🗓️Opening Reception: Sept. 3 | 4–6:30 p.m.
📍 Chen Art Gallery
Exhibition on view through Oct. 2

🔗https://www.ccsu.edu/article/chen-gallery-presents-perspectivas-honor-gilberto-cardenas

08/29/2026

05/08/2026