Latino students host Hispanic Heritage Month celebration on campus The Organization of Latino Americans (OLA) on campus is hosting a weeklong event titled "Bridging Gaps in a Colorful Nation" in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. "Bridging Gaps" runs Tuesday through Saturday, Oct. 13-17. A complete schedule is available on the UND News site at http://www2.und.nodak.edu/our/news/story.php?id=2822 . Highlights of the week include workshops on diversity by guest speaker Julia So of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a Latin American Banquet with traditionally prepared Mexican tamales. A Latino Dance Fiesta hosted in part by Nightlife follows the banquet. The award-winning professional speaker, college professor, and diversity consultant, will visit UND Oct. 15-18 and will speak to UND students and community members. Her topics include embracing diversity for understanding; and respecting, appreciating, and valuing one another despite differences in culture, faith, ability, or lifestyle. As the principal of So Garcia Associates in Albuquerque, N.M., she has been speaking to national audiences on diversity and inclusion, leadership and change, and Asian and Latino cultures for more than two decades. Certified in nonprofit management, So received her B.A. and M.A. in sociology from the University of Texas in Arlington, and Ph.D. in public policy and political economy from the University of Texas at Dallas. OLA is a recently revamped student group through the Office of Multicultural Student Services. It provides camaraderie and support for Hispanic students on campus. The group also strives to work with the local Latino community. -- Juan Pedraza, Writer, University Relations, juanpedraza@mail.und.edu, 777-6571