Manos a La Obra is a call to action.

The NALAC Latinx Summit was anchored in Chicago, the homelands of the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations. NALAC alumni based in Chicago activated some of their peers to host this national gathering in collaboration with voices from across the United States and Puerto Rico.

“Manos a la Obra"

The theme for the event was “Manos a la Obra,” which literally means “Hands to the Work” in Spanish. Colloquially, it is used to say “Let’s get to work” mixed with a collective spirit of “all hands-on deck,” and it is as much an invitation as it is an urgent call for everyone to be deeply involved and knee-deep in our collective future as a Latinx community.

Stephanie Diaz, Chicago, IL, 2014 NALAC Fund for the Arts Grantee

This year’s Summit aimed to

 

  • bring together our community of Latinx artists, cultural workers and organizations of all generations to catalyze peer networking and professional networks
  • deepen intergenerational engagement for the exchange of ideas and cultural practices
  • uplift stories of pandemic cultural resiliency and artistic adaptation
  • advance research toward a “for us by us” cultural policy agenda that supports the needs of the field, influence trends, and mobilize communities.

The Summit format was a combination of interactive labs, workshops, panels, site visits, performances, and showcases. With an eye towards theme-based focused groups, creative disciplines, and career peer mentorship, we organized sessions via three lines of inquiry: Tactical Knowledge, Social Strategy and Creative Practice.

Juan Dies, 2019 NALAC Fund for the Arts, Artist/Ensemble Grantee
Juan Dies, 2019 NALAC Fund for the Arts, Artist/Ensemble Grantee

Manos a la Obra Compilation Video

Our #ManosALaObra compilation video is live! Thank you to everyone who submitted a video clip showcasing their hands at work and the work we do together through arts and cultures.

Meet our Strategic Partners.

NALAC wishes to thank the community of funding partners whose strategic investment to NALAC contributes to the NALAC National Latinx Summit and vitality of the greater Latino arts and culture field.

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