Public Engagement

As a designated U.S. Department of Education Title VI National Resource Center, LLILAS Benson promotes awareness, knowledge, and understanding of Latin America, the Caribbean, and their diasporas in the United States. LLILAS Benson Public Engagement extends the core activities of education, research, and exchange to the broader community. We fulfill this mission through outreach initiatives to K–12 schools, community colleges, and minority-serving institutions, and through cultural events and speaker series for the public.

In addition to providing educational resources and professional development opportunities to foster understanding of topics and issues related to Latin America and the Caribbean, LLILAS Benson partners with local organizations that serve Latinx and immigrant populations, such as Academia Cuauhtli, the Austin Public Library, and the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, to develop and support quality educational resources and public programming.

LLILAS Benson is a founding member of Hemispheres, UT Austin’s International Outreach Consortium, which offers educational programming on Western Europe; Latin America; the Middle East; Russia, East Europe, and Eurasia; and South Asia. As a Hemispheres member, we coordinate K–12 programming that provides a comparative perspective on global issues through our Educator Learning Communities and professional development presentations at school districts and regional service centers around the state. These collaborative outreach initiatives typically focus on a specific theme, or incorporate instruction around one or more of our curriculum units, region-specific content, and/or instructional activities.

Sign up for Hemispheres’ monthly e-newsletter to stay up to date on events and new resources!

Contact LLILAS Benson Public Engagement with comments or suggestions about how to improve the quality or content of our programming, or to inquire about funding co-sponsorships.

Contact

Caroline Garriott, PhD
Public Engagement Coordinator
E-mail: LLILAS_PublicEngagement@austin.utexas.edu

Image: Sofia Yazpik, "Delfina" (detail)