Rio Hondo College is inviting members of the campus community to add personal touches to a Día de Los Muertos altar created by Los Angeles artist and storyteller Ofelia Esparza. Esparza, a master altar builder, spoke to more than 175 campus and community members about the cultural significance of the Latin American celebration of the dead. She then led a workshop on constructing altars, assembling a vibrant display filled with gold and purple paper flowers in the lobby of Rio Hondo College’s Wray Theater. Día de los Muertos, celebrated Nov. 2, represents a mesh of Aztec cultural traditions and Catholicism. Students, staff, faculty and administrators can add artifacts, mementos, photographs, objects, flowers, saints and candles.
Rio Hondo College’s Pathway to Law School program will hold its first-ever mentorship mixer from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10 at the Rio Hondo College Art Gallery to connect students with 17 area judges and attorneys. The mentorship effort is offered through a partnership with legal education nonprofit Ferias Legales. It runs for one year and includes two job shadowing days as well as casual gatherings while students explore different legal fields. The Pathway to Law program assists underrepresented, first-generation students who are interested in pursuing legal careers. Rio Hondo College is one of 28 California community colleges in the program. The gallery is at 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier. For information, email lawschool@riohondo.edu or call (562) 463-7008.
Rio Hondo College’s Art Gallery has extended an exhibit chronicling artist Crystal Maes’ battle with cancer through Friday, Oct. 27 in recognition of its impact on the campus community. Maes, a graphic artist for the College’s marketing and communications team, created the exhibit after her 2013 diagnosis with breast cancer. In 10 still-life paintings, she chronicles her journey from diagnosis, chemotherapy and radiation treatment through to recovery. The exhibit aligns with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The exhibit is titled DETOUR: Ten Paintings Descriptive of a Battle with Cancer. The gallery is at 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
Rio Hondo College will host a Latinx Heritage Event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3 featuring a showcase of producer Moctesuma Esparza’s 2006 HBO film, “Walkout,” which recounts the 1968 East L.A. student walkouts. Esparza, who was part of the walkout as a student, also produced “Selena,” “The Milagro Beanfield War” and “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.” A Q&A with Esparza follows the screening. The event will be held in the Wray Theater, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
Rio Hondo College’s Division of Arts and Cultural Programs will host a celebration of Mexican music and dance with nonprofit Nuestras Raices from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 in the Wray Theater, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier. The group includes more than 250 dancers and musicians. Founder Argelia Andrade will give a talk after the performance.
Rio Hondo College’s Division of Arts and Cultural Programs will host musical and dance educational nonprofit Nuestras Raices from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 in a celebration of Mexican music and dance featuring musical guests Hermanos Herrera with three vibrant musical traditions: Jarocho, Son Huasteco and Norteño. Nuestras Raices provides accessible music classes, mentoring and other opportunities. It includes eight instructors and more than 250 dancers and musicians who perform clad in colorful costumes and using authentic instrumentation. Nuestras Raices founder, Dr. Argelia Andrade, will give a talk following the performance. Both events are in the College’s Wray Theater, Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
Rio Hondo College has brought higher educational opportunities to more than 8,000 community members over the last eight years through a trio of innovative educational centers, according to recently released figures. This fall, the College is deepening course offerings in math, English and childcare instruction at the centers as part of a continuing effort to tailor instructional programs to meet community needs. Students returned to classes on Aug. 19. The centers were opened in phases starting in 2009-10 to bring services to residents who could not always make the trip to Rio Hondo College’s Whittier campus.
Rio Hondo College Gallery is hosting the 2017 SUR:biennial exhibit, which features works by Luis G. Hernández, Margaret Griffith, Maria Rendón, Albert Lopez Jr., Ruben Millares and Lino Martinez. The exhibit runs through Friday, Oct. 13 at the gallery, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
Rio Hondo Eclipse Viewing Party Draws More than 1,000 Spectators
Follow-up Story: Armed with special-purpose solar filters, glasses and pinhole projection setups, more than 1,000 Rio Hondo College students and staff stared in amazement at the solar eclipse on Aug. 21 from the College’s quad. The viewing was hosted by the Mathematics and Sciences Division, which provided 800 viewing glasses. Photos are available
Rio Hondo College Launches 2017-18 School Year
Follow-up Story: Rio Hondo College welcomed back more than 14,000 students to fall semester with new instructional programs in nursing and hospitality as well as an expanded focus on math and English at its three educational centers. This is the first semester for the College’s Rio Promise program, which waives first-year tuition for 2017 graduates of high schools in Rio Hondo College’s service area. Photos are available