OSU Kalmekak Community Outreach Program Records, 1994-2018

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The Oregon State University (OSU) Kalmekak Community Outreach Program Records document the administration and outreach activities of this organization. OSU Kalmekak was established at OSU in 1996 and was active until 2018. The program sought to serve and advocate for the Latino/a and Chicano/a community of Corvallis - and more broadly the state of Oregon - within higher education, as well as increase cultural and racial awareness within the Corvallis area.

Creators

ID: MSS Kalmekak

Extent: 1.0 cubic feet

More Extent Information

Scope and Content Notes

Biographical / Historical Notes

The OSU Kalmekak program arose out of a need for outreach to the Latino, Chicano, and Indigenous community of Oregon. Early ideas of the program included an exchange program with students from Mexico and mother/childcare programs, including a community meeting led by Dr. Manuel Pacheco. They received input from community members about what they wanted to see from the program (the papers of which are included in the documentation) and then presented these ideas to Oregon State officials such as Vice President Roy Arnold and Provost for Academic Affairs John Dunn on May 26th, 1995. This led to the implementation of a pilot program that occurred in the winter term of 1996. This program became official with the Inaguración– a ribbon cutting ceremony, an Aztec ceremony by Mexica Tiahui, and an open hour of the new space in Waldo 128 in January of 1997.

As the program evolved, it settled into its core mission of helping the Latino and Chicano community of OSU, Corvallis, and Oregon. They did this by implementing programs that broadened diversity in higher education institutions by assisting with the high school to college transition and empowering them to pursue those pathways. They also worked for social justice by advocating for their rights as well as educating and developing cultural awareness within the Corvallis community about the Latino/Chicano population of Oregon.

Materials within the collection provide insight into the origin and evolution of the word ‘Kalmekek.’ Collection materials describe the word "Kalmekak" as coming from the Mexica Aztec Indian language Nahuatl, and it means "a place of education including cultural and spiritual aspects." The name changed spelling from "Calmecac" in 1996-1999 to "Kalmekak" in 2000-2018, and this change is reflected in the collection materials. The way the program refers to the community also changes throughout the collection, such as by using an ‘@,’ o/a,’ or ‘x’ at the end of "Latino" and "Chicano" to indicate the multiplicity of the genders represented within the community.

Author: Jozie Billings

Statement on Access: This collection is open for research.

Arrangement

Preferred Citation: OSU Kalmekak Community Outreach Program Records (MSS Kalmakek), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Acquisition Note: The OSU Kalmekak Program materials were donated by the OSU Diversity & Cultural Engagement.

Acquired: 2023.

Languages of Materials

English
Spanish;Castilian

Other

Container List

Series 1: Administration, 1994-2018 Add to Shelf

Series 1 consists of administrative records generated by the OSU Kalmekak Community Outreach Program, as well as by groups affiliated with OSU Kalmekak. The materials include administrative notes, meeting minutes, program information, budgets and invoices, grant proposals, correspondence, newspaper clippings, certificates, and awards. The materials also include information about OSU Kalmekak members, staff, and community contacts, as well as documents related to the establishment of the program

Box-Folder 1.1: Awards and Certificates, 2000-2014 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.2: Budgets and Invoices, 1998-2017 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.3: Cards, 2006 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.4: Contact Information Cards, Undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.5: Contact Information Lists, 1998-2007 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.6: Correspondence, 1999-2000 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.7: Grant Proposals, 1996-2000 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.8: Meeting Notes, 1998-1999 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.9: Meeting Notes, 1999-2008 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.10: Newspaper Clippings, 1999 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.11: Office Sign-In Sheets, 2016-2018 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.12: Program Establishment, 1994-1996 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.13: Program Establishment, 1996-1997 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.14: Program Information, 1999-2002 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.15: References, 1999-2017 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.16: Signage Open Hours, Undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.17: Staff and Volunteer Information, 1998-2007 Add to Shelf

Series 2: Community Engagement, 1997-2018 Add to Shelf

Series 2 consists of records reflecting the OSU Kalmekak Community Outreach Program's community engagement. The materials include event documentation and promotional material from campus, as well as the Corvallis area, community-focused events such as Conexiónes, Festivalitos, Posole Nights, and Día de los Muertos. The collection also includes additional outreach events and high school visits that were attended off-campus.

Box-Folder 1.18: Conexiónes, 2001 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.19: Conexiónes, 2002 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.20: Conexiónes, 2006 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.21: Events, 1998-2017 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.22: Event Promotional Materials, 1997-2018 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.1: Event Promotional Posters, 2007-2016 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.23: Festivalito/Festival Artistico Cultural, 1998-2000 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.24: Festivalito, 2007-2008 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.25: Festivalito, 2013 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.26: Festivalito, 2016-2017 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.27: Festivalito, 2018 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.28: High School Visits, 1998-1999 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.29: Outreach, 1999-2008 Add to Shelf

Series 3: Photographic Materials, 2001-2004 Add to Shelf

Series 3 is made up of photographic images depicting OSU Kalmekak Community Outreach Program activities, such as the circa 2004 Hispanic Youth Leadership Conference in Pendleton, Oregon, and the early 2000s event Conexiónes. Along with loose prints, the photographs are housed in a scrapbook and photograph album. The photographic materials total 180 prints.

Box-Folder 1.30: Conexiónes Scrapbook, 2001-2003 Add to Shelf: The Conexiónes Scrapbook contains 26 scrapbook pages with a total of 34 photographs. The photographs and pages depict events the incoming students participated in on-campus, field trips to Newport, Oregon, and group photos. The scrapbook contains invitations to the Welcoming Reception Dinner, budgets, schedule of activities, and a thank you card to sponsors.
Box-Folder 1.31: Hispanic Youth Leadership Conference Photos, circa 2004 Add to Shelf: The 49 Hispanic Youth Leadership Conference photographs document the conference which took place in Pendleton, Oregon, circa 2004; OSU Kalmekak hosted a table as part of the conference activities. The photographs depict participants during the event, as well as individuals who tabled at the event: Carlos Garcia, Claudia Garcia, Jessica Garcia, and Juana Estrada.
Box-Folder 2.2: Photo Album, 2002 Add to Shelf: The photo album contains 97 photographs of events and activities OSU Kalmekak participated in during the 2002-2003 academic year. The photographs depict high school visits to Umatilla High School and Riverside High School; the Even Start Presentation; and field trips to Portland State Graduate School and Marys Peak. The photographs also depict Festivalito activities and performances. Based on the textual documentation of Festivalito activities, the performances appear to be by Mexica Tiahui and Baile Folklórico. The album also includes photographs of OSU Kalmekak staff - Maria Cobarrubias, Rosa Muñoz, Rogelio Cortez, Araceli Carlos; as well as photographs of organizers and participants of the events, some of whom are identified by name in the album.

People, Places, and Topics

Forms of Material

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