Cultural Center

Compass Groups
Mondays & Tuesdays at the SLO Cultural Center through out the semester. 
Mondays:
Student Parents 
1-2:00
Cultural Center (Rm 5104b)
Tuesdays:
LGBTQAIP
11:30-12:30
Cultural Center (Rm 5104b)

See flier for a list of other groups on campus! These groups are sponsored by the Cuesta Counseling Department

Compass Groups were created for students to connect, build community and receive support, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social status or educational background. 

Cultural Center Taskforce Meeting

Monday, October 15
12-12:45
Campus Center Bldg., Rm N1005
North County Campus

Staff, students & faculty are invited to join the center taskforce. Its purpose is to plan events for the NEW center on the North County Campus and provide feedback on prior events as the semester progresses.

Screening of Underwater Dreams
Wednesday, October 17
12:30-2:00
Cultural Center (5104a)
SLO Campus

Undocumented Student Week of Action is recognized the week of October 15-19th. This week is a student-led campaign advocating for the permanence of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

In recognition of this week, Cuesta College is screening the documentary Underwater Dreams. Underwater Dreams is a documentary chronicling the story of the sons of undocumented Mexican immigrants who learned how to build underwater robots and eventually compete with MIT in a robotics competition.

The event will be followed by a discussion facilitated by Janet Florez.

Check out the trailer below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_lmKPGlE2s

Cultural Center Taskforce Meeting
Thursday, October 18
12-12:45 
Room 5104b, SLO Campus

Staff, students & faculty are invited to join the center taskforce. Its purpose is to plan events for the center and provide feedback on prior events as the semester progresses.

Queer Sensitivity & Ally Trainings
Join HDHS 218 Human Sexuality Students for a Queer Sensitivity & Ally Training. An ally is any non-LGBTQIA person who supports and stands up for the rights of LGBTQIA people, though LGBTQIA people can be allies too, such as a lesbian who is an ally to a transgender person. 

October 22, 1:30-2:45
Room 4404, SLO Campus

October 24, 1:30-2:45
Room 4404, SLO Campus

To receive a certificate of completion, participants must attend both sessions. Space is limited. Contact Bailey Drechsler for more information: bdrechsl@cuesta.edu

Stop the Stigma Presentation & Resource Fair

Monday, October 1
12-1:00, Dallons Hall (N3102)
North County Campus

Wednesday, October 24
12-1:00, Room 5401
SLO Campus

In recognition of Mental Illness Awareness Week, the center is collaborating with Transitions Mental Health & the Cuesta Student Health Center to create an event that seeks to reduce mental health stigma. Speaker Amy Waddle will talk about her own battle with mental illness and answer questions from attendees. There will also be a resource fair before the event. 

Amy Waddle is a former pre-professional classical ballet
dancer, and eating disorder survivor. Her mental health
advocacy work was inspired by her lifelong battle with Bipolar 2
disorder and triumph over suicide. She is an award-winning
eating disorder recovery advocate, and speaker, member of the
Suicide Prevention Council of San Luis Obispo, certified Youth
Mental Health First Aid Trainer, Q.P.R. for suicide prevention
trainer, and speaker for the Stamp Out Stigma Speakers
Bureau.

Stigma is a perceived negative attribute that causes someone to devalue or think less of the whole person. The meaning of stigma boils down to discrimination and hate. People with mental illness feel diminished, devalued and fearful because of the negative attitude society holds toward them. As a result, people struggling with mental health challenges may not get the help they need for fear they’ll be discriminated against.

Free lunch will be provided!

Día de Los Muertos Celebration - SLO Campus

Thursday, November 1
11-1:00 & 5-7:00
Rm 5401, SLO Campus

In collaboration with the Latino Leadership Network, the center will be holding a Día de Los Muertos Celebration! Decorate sugar skulls, make piñatas, eat free food, color & watch Coco! 

Día de Los Muertos Celebration - North County Campus

Thursday, November 1, 4-6:00 
Dallons Hall (N3102), North County Campus

The Latino Leadership Network & the Cultural Center will be celebrating Día de Los Muertos by watching the movie Coco, decorating sugar skulls & eating free food!

If you are interested in entering the Día de Los Muertos Art Contest, please read about the rules and fill out your Artist Statement form here. 

Native Hip-Hop Presentation

Thursday, November 8
11-12:00, Cultural Center (5104a)
SLO Campus

Jenell Navarro, an assistant professor in the Ethnics Studies Department at Cal Poly & faculty advisor for the American Indian Student Association, will present on the role of Hip-Hop in native culture. Check out Jenell's biography here.

Cultural Center Taskforce Meeting

Tuesday, November 13
12-12:45
Campus Center Bldg., N1005
North County Campus

Staff, students & faculty are invited to join the center taskforce. Its purpose is to plan events for the NEW center on the North County Campus and provide feedback on prior events as the semester progresses.

Women in Male-Dominated Fields

Wednesday, November 14
12-1:00
Rm 5401, SLO County Campus
Rm N3213 via Polycom on the North County Campus

The annual Women in Male-Dominated fields event is intended to empower women at Cuesta & in the community to pursue any field in which they have interest, even if it is field traditionally dominated by men. We recognize that it can be difficult to be what we can't see. To counter act this obstacle we invite local women to speak about their experiences in fields in which they are the minority. 

This fall Sarah N. Santana of Edward Jones in Morro Bay will speak about her experience as woman & a minority in the finance field. Check out her bio below: 

Sarah Santana found herself homeless at 18. She lived in her car, showered at the gym and still managed to be a full time student, work 3 jobs, and keep her struggle a secret. Today Sarah is a partner in the largest privately held firms in the world and currently the youngest in her region. In 2016 she received the tribunes top 20 under 40 award and in 2010 she received the Latinas Leading the Way Award from Latina Leaders of Kern County.

Lasagna & salad will be served at the SLO Campus

Cultural Center Taskforce Meeting

Thursday, November 15
12-12:45 
Room 5104b, SLO Campus

Staff, students & faculty are invited to join the center taskforce. Its purpose is to plan events for the center and provide feedback on prior events as the semester progresses.

Fake News & Critical Media Literacy Workshop

Wednesday, November 28
12-1:00
Cultural Center (5104a)
SLO Campus

Dr. Emily Ryalls will be facilitating a workshop on the following topics: 
- Developing critical thinking skills
- Understanding how media messages shape our culture and society
- Identifying target marketing strategies
- Recognizing what the media maker wants us to believe or do
- How to identify the techniques of persuasion used
- Recognizing bias, spin, misinformation, and lies
- Discovering the parts of the story that are not being told

Speaker Bio: 

EMILY RYALLS (2017) Ph.D., University of South Florida. Dr. Ryalls teaches media criticism and gender and communication. 

Dr. Ryalls joined the department in 2017. Her research and teaching interests are in the areas of cultural studies and feminist media studies, with a focus on popular culture and issues of race, gender, class, and sexuality. Her book, The Culture of Mean: Representing Victims and Bullies in Popular Culture, is part of Sharon Mazzarella’s Youth and Media series at Peter Lang. She has published articles in journals such as Critical Studies in Media Communication, Text and Performance Quarterly, Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies, and Communication Culture & Critique.