Elliott Powell, a professor in the American studies department, researches the historical intersection of sexuality, gender, and race in popular music. He looks at the role of sexuality in collaborations between South Asian and Black popular music from 1960 to the present.

Ray Barney is a senior at the University of Minnesota double-majoring in gender, women & sexuality studies (GWSS) and Asian languages and literatures (ALL) with a minor in art. They are already doing work informed by feminist, Black, trans, and queer praxis. With the tools and opportunities they’ve gained during their time at the University of Minnesota, Barney hopes to be a part of the shared fight for shared liberation.

“Minnesota” comes from the Dakota word “Mni Sota Makoce,” which translates to “the land of cloudy waters.” Canoe Rising encourages students and community members alike to pay homage to the land that sustains them by participating in canoe outings, lectures, and more.

The Department of Chicano & Latino Studies was awarded a $60,000 NEH grant to support the Rhizome collaborative project led by department chair Karen Mary Davalos and Constance Cortez (University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley).