The Language and Literature department, in partnership with Student Engagement and Leadership at NCCU, is hosting the 2026 Being Human Festival on April 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the New Student Center.
The Being Human Festival is an international public humanities initiative that brings academic research into conversation with broader communities through creative, accessible, and participatory events (see the press release). This initiative has been developed with the active collaboration of students in Professor Javier Alvarez's Latin American Culture and Civilization course, along with a grant awarded to Dr. Alvarez from the National Humanities Center.
The festival aims to highlight Afro-Latin American cultural expressions through both academic and experiential engagement.
It will feature a range of performances and interactive components, including:
- A DJ set and a live jazz trio
- A tasting of a variety of foods
- A percussionist offering a hands-on drumming tutorial
- A Latin dance instructor leading a workshop on Latin American music and movement
- Student poster presentations based on course research
To foster engagement, the event will include ongoing trivia activities based on the posters' content, with prizes awarded to trivia winners. Additionally, a prize will be given to the best student poster.
All faculty and students at NCCU are welcome and encouraged to participate — either as poster presenters or by showcasing their talent through a performance.
The event will serve as a dynamic platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, student engagement, and community building.