The Chicano Studies Department of Los Angeles Mission College will be presenting their 1st Annual Aztlan Graduation on Monday, June 3rd, with a special two part musical performance by acclaimed and longtime staple of the Chicano movement, Aztlan Underground (http://aztlanunderground.net).
For this most special occasion, the band will be honoring the graduates while entertaining faculty and guests with two acoustic sets done with the ancient instruments of Mexico, a sound they like to call Aztlan Underground "Unearthed". The Graduation and performances will take place at Los Angeles Mission College, Campus Center Main, from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.
The 1st Annual Aztlan Graduation will be honoring all graduating Chicano Studies Associate of the Arts degree recipients with their graduation sashes to be worn at the campus-wide commencement ceremony the next evening. In a wondrous effort to make the event happen, EVERYTHING is being donated. From university professors paying for the certificates and programs, to Tia Chuchas (http://www.tiachucha.com) paying for the sashes, to even the president of the college donating to the cause. Aztlan Underground was also more than happy to charitably donate their services for the evening.
With this annual ceremony, the Chicano Studies Department hopes to raise funds in order to establish two new scholarships for LAMC students. Donations are accepted and encouraged to help cover the costs of the event and for the Guadalupe Ramirez Memorial Chicano Studies Scholarship Fund, and the Sal Castro Memorial Student Activist/Organizer Scholarship Fund. For more information please email: maldonja@lamission.edu or call (818) 833-3412.
The tentative schedule for the 1st Annual Aztlan Graduation is as follows:
6:00 pm Grand Entrance and Blessing
Mitotiliztli Temachtia Quetzalcoatl
6:35 pm Welcome
Professor John J. Morales
Chair, Department of Chicano Studies
Dr. Monte Perez
President, Los Angeles Mission College
Dr. Michael Allen
Vice President of Academic Affairs, Los Angeles Mission College
6:45 pm Edutainment
Musica: Aztlan Underground Unearthed
7:00 pm Guest Speaker:
Raul Herrera, M.A.
First LAMC Chicano Studies Associate of the Arts
7:05 pm Chicano Studies Associate of the Arts Degree Recipients
Giovanni Ochoa, Associate of the Arts, Chicano Studies
Alicia Palacios, Associate of the Arts, Chicano Studies
Cynthia Peña, Associate of the Arts, Chicano Studies
Nancy Tiet, Associate of the Arts, Chicano Studies
7:15 pm Edutainment
Spoken Word: LAMC Drama Club
7:30 pm Guest Speaker:
Norma Ramirez
United for Education Coalition
7:35 pm Edutainment
Musica: Aztlan Underground Unearthed
7:50 pm Graduates in Other Disciplines
Ernesto Ayala, Associate of the Arts, History
Maria Galindo, Associate of the Arts, Culinary Arts
Janet Romero, Associate of the Arts, Criminal Law
Araceli Diaz, Associate of the Arts, Liberal Arts
8:00 pm Guest Speakers:
Luis J. Rodriguez,
Author, Always Running
Trini Rodriguez,
Co-Founder, Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural
8:10 pm Edutainment
Poesia: ¡Vive Pez!
8:20 pm CLOSING:
Rosalinda Moctezuma
Associate Professor of Chican@ Studies
8:25 pm Sash Ceremony, Blessing and Closing Prayer
Mitotiliztli Temachtia Quetzalcoatl
About Aztlan Underground
Aztlan Underground’s music reveals the unrestrained voices of global indigenous peoples combining hypnotic Native rhythms with modern industrial sounds. For 20 years, they have cultivated a grassroots audience across the world from Europe to Australia and Canada to South America. At home, they are an institution influencing a new generation of musicians, bands, and free-thinkers. They challenge their audience to look within, to their own life-giving forces, in order to reach their full human potential.
Aztlan Underground has independently produced and distributed three albums: Decolonize (1995), Sub-Verses (2001), and the self-titled album Aztlan Underground (2009). The band’s albums reflect a process of self-discovery and realization evolving from the anger of Decolonize to the self-titled album featuring an evolution towards a more global, humanitarian struggle.
Aztlan Undergrounds seasonal series releases include: Our Nature (Spring Equinox 2012), Sacred Arrow Sun (Summer Solstice 2012), Vote for Nobody (Autumn Equinox 2012), In Realignment (Winter Solstice 2012), and Eternal (Spring Equinox 2012).
Website: www.aztlanunderground.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/aztlanunderground
Twitter: @Aztlanug
**All Aztlan Underground albums are available on iTunes.
***Albums and select downloadable songs are available to press upon request.
Management: Spiral NRG - (415) 519 8514
Booking: AUG - (818) 219-3441
