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Title: OSU Kalmekak Community Outreach Program Records, 1994-2018

ID: MSS Kalmekak

Primary Creator: Oregon State University. Kalmekak Community Outreach Program

Extent: 1.0 cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The OSU Kalmekak Community Outreach Program Records is organized into three series: Series 1: Administration, 1994-2018; Series 2: Community Engagement, 1997-2018; Series 3: Photographic Materials, 2001-2004.

Date Acquired: 00/00/2023

Languages of Materials: English [eng], Spanish;Castilian [spa]

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.

The OSU Kalmekak Community Outreach Program Records consist of administrative documents, event and community engagement information, and photographs. The administrative materials include documents related to the establishment of the program, such as early ideas, meetings, and events, as well as program information, including mission statements. Also included is documentation and promotional material from campus- and Corvallis community-focused events and outreach. Of note, the community engagement materials include documentation on Festivalitos, an art and culture festival held annually in the spring including guests such as Mexica Tiahui and Baile Folklórico. Photographic materials include a scrapbook documenting three years of the event Conexiónes (2001-2003), photos from the outreach event Hispanic Youth Leadership Conference in Pendleton, Oregon (circa 2004), and a photo album from 2002 featuring photos from the Festivalito.

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

More Extent Information: 2 boxes, including 1 oversize box; 180 photographs

Statement on Access: This collection is open for research.

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

Related Materials: The Student Club and Organization Records (RG 276) includes information pertaining to the OSU Kalmekak Community Outreach Program. Related materials include the Cultural César Chávez Records (RG 248) and the Association of Latin American Students Records (MSS ALAS). In addition, the Diversity Development Office Records (RG 228), the Educational Opportunities Program Records (RG 230), Office of Multicultural Affairs Records (RG 225), and Minority Education Office Records (RG 229) also document services for non-traditional and minority students at OSU. All of these collections are components of the Oregon Multicultural Archives.

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

Oregon State University. Kalmekak Community Outreach Program

College environment--Oregon--Corvallis.
Hispanic American college students--Oregon--Corvallis.
Minority college students--Oregon--Corvallis.
Oregon Multicultural Archives
Oregon State University--Students.
Student activities--Oregon--Corvallis.
University History

Photographic prints.
Scrapbooks.