Arturo S. Rodríguez
United Farm Workers
9:15 a.m. Wick Student Center Social Hall

As president of the United Farm Workers of America, Arturo S. Rodriguez is continuing to build the union Cesar Chavez founded into a powerful voice for farm workers by increasing its membership and pushing historic legislation on immigration reform and worker rights. Rodriguez led negotiations with the nation’s major grower associations to fashion the agricultural provisions of the bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill that passed the U.S. Senate in 2013. He and the UFW worked closely with the White House, meeting with President Obama, over the President’s executive order on immigration issued in November 2014.

Linda Black Elk
"Food is More than the Sum of Its Parts!"
2:30 p.m. Wick Student Center Social Hall

Health and nutrition programs on reservations often focus on food security – the belief that any foods, as long as they are healthy and accessible, are adequate for our community members. Since these programs are often federally funded, they reflect the USDA food pyramid guidelines, which are nutritionally deficient for a majority of Indigenous peoples, and although they are certainly nutritious, they generally lack the cultural connection to the hearts, minds, and stomachs of the people. Food is more than nutrition. Food is more than the sum of its parts.

Kevin Doyle and Sol Y Sombra Quartet
3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Wick Student Center Social Hall

Kevin and Sol Y Sombra, return again this year to delight us with their music. They were formerly known as the Latin Jazz Project and have strived to express a wide range of musical styles representing the musical heritage of multiple ethnicities embodied in the complexity of American life. Sol Y Sombra have expertise in a wide range of styles, including salsa típica, and “jibaro”, traditional music genres of Cuba and Puerto Rico, respectively. Kevin Doyle is pianist & arranger while WNY’s top jazz artists fill out the group’s roster. They have made noteworthy appearances throughout WNY at such places as Shea’s, Jazz In The Park, M&T Plaza Music Series, Elmwood Village Concert Series, and Lewiston Jazz Festival.

More Info

Sol Y Sombra has become a Western New York standard-bearer for Latin jazz. They have expertise in a wide range of styles, including salsa típica, and “jibaro”, traditional music genres of Cuba and Puerto Rico, respectively. Sarah Haykel, a Young Audiences teaching artist in her own right, provides dance instruction at many of their performances.