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Stories of Change: The Fight for Civil Rights in South Texas

September 17, 5:30PM – 6:30PM

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Hard Won Freedoms in America is a three-part public lecture series to be presented from September through November 2026 in conjunction with America 250. 

The series will explore pivotal moments in history when individuals and communities confronted injustice and organized to secure civil, educational, and political rights. Through lectures by nationally respected scholars and community members, the program will highlight the fight for civil rights in South Texas, the unlikely heroes of the American Revolution and the stories of Jewish immigration to America. 

Stories of Change: The Fight for Civil Rights in South Texas
Lecture by Dr. James Barrera

Members - $10
Non-Members - $18

Dr. Barrera is a professor of history at South Texas College in McAllen. In conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month, he will speak on his research with a focus on the history of Latinos/Mexican Americans in the U.S., emphasizing civil rights, social movements, cultural identity, and educational activism in the 20th century. Dr. Barrera will discuss the challenges that Latinos/Mexican Americans faced in Texas as well as the relationship of Chicano students and the school systems.

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Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a lecture, a folklorico performance and the young chefs of Burnet Elementary

Come and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month on Thursday, September 17! Featuring a folklórico performance by students of GISD, nachos by the young chefs of Burnet Elementary School, and a special lecture by Dr. James Barrera about the 1960s Chicano student movement for educational reform. Graciously funded by The Summerlee Foundation and Texas Historical Foundation.

Your lecture ticket comes with all of these additional experiences!