Latinos in the Heartland
May 18 - 20, 2009

2009 Conference Description and Highlights

Conference Poster

About the Cambio de Colores conference

“Cambio de Colores (Change of Colors)” is an annual conference that focuses on issues related to the current Latino immigration to the Midwest.  The conference’s main goal is provide knowledge to contribute to a smooth and lasting integration of the new population, through the following specific tasks:

• To assess the changes brought about by the presence of new Latino urban and rural settlers in every state of the Heartland.
• To inform about the multiple contributions—economic, social, and cultural—that these newcomers are bringing to many communities and to the region as a whole.
• To understand the opportunities that this demographic change brings to the region, its people, communities, businesses, and educational institutions.
• To provide a forum to discuss the change and growth challenges posed to institutions and people—both new and old residents of the Heartland.
• To share relevant scholarship and best practices, and identify knowledge and service needs that require addressing.

The three-day conference convenes academic research and extension specialists, public and private service providers, grassroots organizations, state and local government institutions, politicians, corporations, and newcomers themselves. The conference is sponsored by the University of Missouri, in cooperation with community and state partners. It is mostly funded by participants (who have numbered 250 on average) and sponsors.  The 2009 conference is a collaborative effort with the twelve-state North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, and the Immigrants in Midwestern Communities Inter University Network.

The Hispanic and Latin American Faculty & Staff Association of the University of Missouri-Columbia (HLAFSA) took a principal role in creating and leading the first conferences, with the enthusiastic support of the University of Missouri System institutions, and the collaboration of many organizations in our state.

A groundbreaking, three-day event took place in March 2002 at the University of Missouri-Columbia: “Cambio de Colores (Change of Colors). Latinos in Missouri: A call to action!”

Subsequent conferences were in 2003 in Kansas City (“Neighbors in Urban and Rural Communities”), St. Louis in 2004 (“Gateway to a New Community”), Columbia in 2005 (“Connecting Research to Policy and Practice - Hoy y mañana.”) and again in 2006 (“Beyond Borders”).  In April, 2007, the conference went back to Kansas City (“Everyone Together – Todos Juntos”).  In 2008, Columbia hosted the 7th conference (“Uniting Cultures – Uniendo Culturas.”

The diverse and enthusiastic participation in these very inclusive events is demonstrating the relevance and the urgency of addressing today the challenges and the opportunities that arise in Missouri and other Midwestern states, as Latinos and other newcomers settle as workers, families and members of communities.

The eighth conference will take place at the Millennium Student Center at the University of Missouri- St. Louis in May 18-20, 2009.  Preparations are now under way, with the broad support of a Planning Committee from people across the region.  The conference is organized along themes that include change and integration, communities, youth, education, health, civil rights, society and culture.

This page updated:
13 May, 2009