April 5-7, 2024
La Casa's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Mi Casa,Tu Casa,La Casa, Celebrando 50 y Más!
50th Anniversary Weekend Schedule
Friday, April 5
Event Check In | Caminos de La Casa - Campus Recuerdos
- About: Check-in for the 50th Anniversary to receive your event name tag, submit any archival materials, receive a tour of La Casa and connect with others! Guided campus tours ‘Caminos de La Casa’ will take place to bring our alumni on a walk down memory lane.
- Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Location: La Casa Cultural Latina | 1203 W. Nevada Street
FIESTA Dance Workshop
- Time: 3:00-4:00 PM
- Location: Krannert Center for the Performing Arts (500 S Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801)
FIESTA | Bailando Through the Decades
- About: Join us as we start the 50th Anniversary Weekend with FIESTA | Bailando Through the Decades, an evening of celebration, dancing, performances, and more! During FIESTA| Bailando Through the Decades we bring together our beloved programs such as Latin Dance Night, Copacabana, and course FIESTA! This event is free and open to the community.
- Time: 8:00 – 11:00 PM
- Location: Krannert Center for the Performing Arts (500 S Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801)
Saturday, April 6
Event Check In | Caminos de La Casa - Campus Murals Tour
- Check-in for the 50th Anniversary to receive your event name tag, submit any archival materials, receive a tour of La Casa and connect with others! Guided campus tours ‘Caminos de La Casa – Campus Mural Tours’ that showcase the student created murals that cemented our space on campus.
- Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Location: Tours begin at La Casa and feature our murals located at Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, the Illini Union, and La Casa
Latina/Latino Alumni Association (LLAA) & Latino Student Association (LSA) Alumni Panel & Brunch
- About: Join us for a special brunch where you can enjoy delicious food and hear from our Alumni Panel. These accomplished individuals will be sharing insights from their diverse career journeys. After the panel discussion, there will be ample opportunity for networking with the panelists and other alumni participants
- Time: 11 AM – 1:30 PM
- Location: Student Dining & Residential Programs Building (301 E. Gregory Drive)
Latina/o/e/x Excelencia & Achievement | Student, Alumni, Faculty, Staff Educational Sessions
- About: This event is aimed to showcase the talent of our Students, Alumni and Latinx Faculty and Staff at the University of Illinois. To submit an educational session proposal please click here. Proposals are due by March 15. Questions can be directed to lacasa@Illinois.edu
- Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Location: Latina/Latino Studies Building (1207 W. Oregon Street)
La Casa Cultural Latina All Staff Reunion Luncheon
- About: For over 50 years the dedication of our staff, our familia, has shaped the legacy of La Casa. It is through our undergraduate student staff, our graduate assistants, professional staff, Directors, and valued partners that have shaped La Casa. During this reunion, we look forward to bringing together our staff from 1974 to the present for a luncheon to connect, reminisce, and look forward!
- Time: 1:00 – 3:00 PM
- Location: Spurlock Museum of World Cultures (600 S. Gregory Street)
Recuerdos | Honoring those who came before us
- About: During this time, we will pause and take a moment to reflect & honor those closest to La Casa that we have lost over the years.
- Time: 3:30– 4:30 PM
- Location: Spurlock Museum of World Cultures (600 S. Gregory Street)
La Casa Cultural Latina 50th Anniversary Gala
- Tickets: $74
- Time: 7:00-9:00 PM
- Location: I-Hotel & Conference Center (1900 S 1st St, Champaign, IL 61820)
La Casa's 50th Celebration Continues at the Illini Inn
- About: Celebratory Event Hosted by Laura Castañeda (87) and Pablo Hernández (85). Additional Registration Required which can be found here.
- Time: 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM
- Location: Illini Inn (901 S 4th St, Champaign, IL 61820)
Sunday, April 7
Event Check-In | Caminos de La Casa; Latinx Campus Landmarks Tour & Archival Display
- About: Check-in for the 50th Anniversary to receive your event name tag, submit any archival materials, receive a tour of La Casa and connect with others! Guided campus tours ‘Caminos de La Casa – Latinx Campus Landmarks Tour’
- Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Location: La Casa Cultural Latina (1203 W. Nevada Street)
La Casa Professional Staff Cafecito
- About: All professional staff who have worked at La Casa Cultural Latina are invited for a cafecito chat to reflect on their experiences and share their visions for La Casa’s future
- Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
- Location: SALAAM Middle East & North Africa Cultural Center (700 South Gregory St. Suite E, Urbana, IL 61801)
Leadership Networking Brunch
- About: Calling all Latine Leaders! We invite all those involved with Latina/o/e/x student organizations over the past 50 Years to share a space centered on networking and the power of our leadership. Today, La Casa Alliance of Student Organizations (LCASO) brings together over 35 Latine-based student organizations that share in the mission to build a supportive relationship with each other, La Casa Cultural Latina, and the University through collaboration, campus & community involvement, and student leadership development.
- Time: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Location: La Casa Cultural Latina (1203 W. Nevada Street)
50 Years Forward – Despedida & Dedication Ceremony
- Time: 12:30 – 2:30
- Location: La Casa Cultural Latina (1203 W. Nevada Street)
Stay Engaged with La Casa's 50th Anniversary!
Share your Fotos y Recuerdos
Through these memories, we hope to curate a collection of collective experiences to share together during La Casa's 50th Anniversary Weekend.
Host an Event During La Casa's 50th Anniversary
Interested in hosting a campus event, class reunion, Latinx based organization reunion, or another way to connect? Please fill out this form by March 31, 2024 to get added to our 50th Anniversary Schedule!
Alumni Contact Form
Stay Connected with La Casa after you graduate to keep in touch with our updates & opportunities for Latina/o/e/x Alumni Engagement.
Hotel Block Information
The following local hotels provide exclusive block rates while available for your accommodations during La Casa's 50th Anniversary Weekend.
Illini Union Hotel | 1401 W Green St, Urbana, IL 61801 | 0.6 Miles from La Casa (8 min walk) For online Illini Union Hotel's rates & reservations please visit illiniunionhotel.illinois.edu & use the group booking code: LaCasa50. To make reservations by phone, please have guests call 217-333-1241 with the dates of your stay and provide group code LaCasa50
Holiday Inn | 101 Trade Ctr Dr, Champaign, IL 61820 | 2.3 Miles from La Casa (6 min drive) For Holiday Inn's rate & reservations please click here.
Comfort Suites | 2001 N Lincoln Ave, Urbana, IL 61801 | 2.3 Miles from La Casa (7 min drive) For the best rates and reservations at Comfort Suites, we strongly encourage contacting the hotel directly at 217-328-3500 and use code: LaCasa50
Fall 2023 50th Anniversary Celebration Events
Latina/o/x/e Excelencia & Achievement: The Untold stories of Latinx Alumni & Faculty at Illinois
Thursday, September 21, 2023 (12:00pm to 5:00pm)
Latina/o/x/e Excelencia & Achievement: The Untold stories of Latinx Alumni & Faculty at Illinois is an event that is part of the 50th Anniversary Celebration for La Casa Cultural Latina. This event is aimed to showcase the talent of our Alumni and Latinx Faculty and Staff at the University of Illinois. The lunch portion of the event will focus on highlighting the book over a panel discussion with the authors and contributors over a meal. The afternoon portion after lunch will focus on highlighting the Latina/o/x/e faculty on our campus and their current research. Free food will be provided!
Location: Illini Union, Room 314AB / 1401 W Green St, Urbana, IL 61801
Sponsored By: This event is possible thanks to the support from the Division of Student Affairs through La Casa Cultural Latina and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion.
Latinx Faculty wanting to showcase your research during this event click here to submit request.
El Homecoming Brunch
Sunday, October 22, 2023 (11:30am to 1:00pm)
Our Homecoming Brunch is designed to bring our community together to experience joy with one another and celebrate some of the memories across the 50 years y mas. We will be showcasing some history around the center and allow the opportunity for us to connect with another another and have alumni engage with current students. Free food will be provided!
Location: La Casa Cultural Latina / 1203 W Nevada St, Urbana, IL 61801
Sponsored By: This event is possible thanks to the support from the Division of Student Affairs.
La Casa's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Mi Casa,Tu Casa,La Casa, Celebrando 50 y Más!