February 9-11, Locations vary
Celebrating the 500th anniversary of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León’s landing in Florida, the UM Center for Humanities hosts “Florida at the Crossroads: Five Hundred Years of Encounters, Conflicts, and Exchanges.” Twenty-six scholars from the State of Florida, the US and Spain present discussions on the past, present and future of Florida. Keynote speakers include Raquel Chang-RodrÃguez, colonialism scholar from the City University of New York and Alex Stepick, director of the immigration and ethnicity institute of Florida International University. Conference ends with a reading of “Hail, God of Seeds!” written by 17th century Spanish colonial poet Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, set to period music performed by instrumentalists and choral ensemble. The public is invited. Admission is free of charge.