Surgeon's at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital Give Toddler New Lease on Life

Joseline Elizabeth Vasquez Santay, a two-year-old from Guatemala, may finally have a chance at a normal childhood thanks to doctors at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Josie had a large lymphatic malformation on the side of her neck that was the size of her head and was hindering her ability to eat, breathe and move her neck normally. Surgeon Steve Goudy spent almost 15 hours in surgery painstakingly removing hundreds of fluid-filled balloons that made up the tumor.

To view a slideshow of Josie’s arrival and surgery, visit http://www.vanderbiltchildrens.com/atw_blog/.

Josie came to the U.S. with her mother Veronica Santay, after more conventional treatments in Guatemala failed. The nonprofit Shalom Foundation helped bring her here, and the Children’s Hospital and her doctors are donating surgery and treatments for her.

Contacts: Carole Bartoo or Laurie Holloway, (615) 322-4747
Carole.bartoo@vanderbilt.edu
Laurie.holloway@vanderbilt.edu

Las Maras: Street Gangs and Security in Central America and the United States

>   With gang activity becoming increasingly visible in the United States and Central America, the Center for Latin American Studies co-sponsored "Las maras: Street Gangs and Security in Central America and the United States", a conference held on March 11, 2008 which assembled leading experts to share information about policies to reduce the incidence and influence of gangs.  Participants included: Cheryl Maxson, Associate Professor and Director of Doctoral Program, Department of Criminology, Law and Society, University of California, Irvine; Geoff Thale, Program Director at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA); Elin Ranum, Director, Central American Coalition for the Prevention of Youth Violence; and José Miguel Cruz, Director of IUDOP, (on leave) University of Central America (UCA) and Ph.D. candidate at Vanderbilt University.


Video of the Gang Conference, March 11, 2008
    WMP: Here   RealPlayer: Here

Interview with gang expert, Vanderbilt's own José Miguel Cruz
    QuickTime: Here

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Of Rage and Redemption: The Art of Oswaldo Guayasamín

>   From February 7 - March 22, 2008, the Center for Latin American and Iberian Studies is proud to present Of Rage and Redemption: The Art of Oswaldo Guayasamín, in cooperation with the Vanderbilt Fine Arts Gallery and the Fundación Guayasamín of Quito, Ecuador.  Oswaldo Guayasamín (1919-1999) was one of the most important Latin American artists of the 20th century, and this Vanderbilt exhibit serves as the first major showing of his work in the United States for five decades. 


"Guayasamín vuelve a los Estados Unidos cincuenta años después," El Comercio.

"The View From the Equator," Nashville Scene.

"Works of Oswaldo Guayasamin at Vanderbilt," The Tennessean.

"Guayasamín's art makes a long-delayed journey to America," The Tennessean.

"Después de 53 años, una exposición de Oswaldo Guayasamín regresa a EE.UU.," El Comercio.

Exhibit Catalog

Fundación Guayasamín

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Rigoberta Menchú

>   On February 7, 2008 the Center for Latin American and Iberian Studies co-presented a guest lecture by Rigoberta Menchu, winner of the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize.  Her lecture, titled "Healing Communities Torn by Racism and Violence," served as the opening of the exhibit "Of Rage and Redemption: The Art of Oswaldo Guayasamin."  The late Oswaldo Guayasamin, one of the greatest 20th century Latin American artists, was close friends with Rigoberta Menchu.  This exhibit at Vanderbilt will be the first major showing of his art in the United States for half a century.  From Vanderbilt the exhibit will make five additional US stops.


Video of Rigoberta Menchu lecture, February 7, 2008.
     RealPlayer: Here

"Menchu advocates healing the pain of racism by helping others," myVU News.

"Nobel Laureate Rigoberta Menchu to speak in Nashville," The Tennessean.

"Rigoberta Menchu, Indian rights advocate, Nobel Peace Prize winner and recent presidential candidate for Guatemala, to speak at Vanderbilt Feb. 7," VUCast.

"Nobel winner to discuss healing racism's wounds," The Tennessean.
  

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>   In January 2008 the United States Agency for International Development granted the Vanderbilt-based LAPOP (Latin American Public Opnion Project) an additional $9 million in funding.

"Vanderbilt's Latin American Public Opinion Project receives major financial boost," VUCast.

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>    The front page and feature article in the January 2008 issue of the Vanderbilt View, titled "Ties that Bind," covered the Center for Latin American and Iberian Studies and its lengthy and significant relations with Brazil and as pioneers in Brazilian Studies in the United States.

"Ties that Bind," Vanderbilt View.


 

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Siloam Health Fair

>   On November 3, 2007 CLAIS' assistant director, Lori Catanzaro, helped conduct an annual health clinic directed to Nashville's growing Hispanic community.

"Vanderbilt students help at annual Siloam Health Clinic," VUCast.

Coffee Conference

>   On October 26, 2007 the Center for Latin American and Iberian Studies hosted a Coffee Conference, featuring guest speakers Peter Martin from Vanderbilt University, Jim Lang from Vanderbilt University, Daniel Reichman from the University of Rochester, Sarah Lyon from the University of Kentucky, Diego Pizano from Café de Colombia, and Bob Bernstein, owner of Bongo Java.

"All you need to know about coffee to be covered at Vanderbilt conference," VUCast.

"Podcast: Coffee's far-reaching impact," VUCast.

CLAIS 60th Anniversary & Fernando Henrique Cardoso

>   On October 8, 2007 the Center for Latin American and Iberian Studies was very pleased to welcome former President of Brazil and world-renowned sociologist Fernando Henrique Cardoso for a guest lecture as part of the celebration surrounding CLAIS' 60th anniversary.

"Former Brazilian president to visit Vanderbilt," The Tennessean.

"Former Brazilian president and renowned sociologist to lecture at Vanderbilt," VUCast.

"Former Brazilian president and renowned sociologist lecturing at Vanderbilt," VUCast. 
[video below, link]

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>   In September 2007, LAPOP (Latin American Public Opinion Project) released their research the Americas Barometer, which details quantitative data on political sentiment in the Western Hemisphere.

"Americas Barometer results unveiled by Vanderbilt's LAPOP," VUCast.


 

Outreach - Tango Workshop

>   On September 14, 2007 the Center for Latin American and Iberian Studies hosted a teacher's workshop on the history and cultural significance of tango.

"K-12 teachers consider tango as teaching tool at Vanderbilt workshop," VUCast.