Lawrence – In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, David Heredia, an award-winning animator, author, and entrepreneur, will deliver a virtual White Fund Lecture Presentation titled “¿Mami Que Sera Lo Que Quiere El Negro? The African influence in Latin America” on Monday, Oct. 4 at 6:30 pm.
Free and open to the public with pre-registration required, his presentation will highlight Afro-Latino heroes and explore the beauty and influence that African culture has brought to Latin America. The White Fund Lecture Series is a partnership with Northern Essex Community College.
Heredia, who is Dominican, is the founder of Heroes of Color, LLC, an art organization that promotes inclusion and diversity through art and education, and has been featured in the New York Times and on NPR, Telemundo, and more.
His long-term commitment to educating through art led to the creation of his book “Little Heroes of Color” (Scholastic 2019), which introduces 50 men and women of color who “have changed the world.” That book, as well as his second book “The Freelance Hustle”, were both the #1 hot release on Amazon.
An in-demand speaker, Heredia has delivered interactive diversity training for the Walt Disney Company and entrepreneurship workshops for artists at CalArts and Cal State Fullerton and at film festivals across the nation.
He has an associate degree from New York City College of Technology, a BFA in animation from the School of Visual Arts, and has studied motion media design at Savannah College of Art and Design. From 1997 to 2018, he was CEO and director of animation and design for Heredia Designs, LLC.
Heredia decries the way Afro-Latinos are treated in Latin American countries, sharing that, as recently as 2019, some Latin American countries did not acknowledge Afro-Latinos in their census.
“The treatment of Afro Latinos in Latin America is reminiscent of the systemic racism that still flourishes in the U.S,” he says. “Thanks to the courage of many Afro-Latino heroes, advocates, and intellectuals, our contributions are finally being recognized and stereotypes are being challenged daily.”
Northern Essex is proud to have been named the first Hispanic-Serving Institution in Massachusetts by the U.S. Department of Education in 2001 and to have a student population that is 43% Hispanic.
In addition to this presentation, the Office of Student Life has created a series of events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, including a Latin Lunch, Hispanic Cultural Bingo, and a presentation titled “Latino Immigrant Success Story” featuring Eduardo Crespo ’90 and Alejandra Méndez from the NECC library has also created a guide in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month:
To register for the October 4 presentation, visit: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAld-CuqDsjHdVKXVGu-ZQ6Ifjx8KtnTIXK or contact Analuz Garcia at agarcia@necc.mass.edu
The White Fund’s purpose is to have a free series of interactive presentations for Lawrence area adults, youth, and children. The audience is encouraged to seek wisdom, cultural enrichment, and intellectual enhancement by attending and participating.
Funded by the Honorable Daniel Appleton White, the White Fund Lecture Series has provided cultural conversation featuring well-known lecturers in fields such as history, literature, travel, the arts, and politics. The White Fund is collaborating with Northern Essex on this series.
