NPR's Maria Hinojosa to Visit UNO Campus

Omaha – One of the nation’s leading voices on underserved and underrepresented populations will be holding a speaking event on the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) campus on Wednesday, April 30, that is free and open to the public.

At 1 p.m. on April 30, at the newly-opened Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center, Maria Hinojosa, host of NPR’s “Latino USA” and the 2012 PBS special “America By The Numbers with Maria Hinojosa,” will present "Changing the Narrative: Stories from the Frontlines of the New Mainstream" - a discussion on giving voice to the voiceless; something she has been doing for more than 25 years.

During her career, Hinojosa has reported for PBS, CNN, Frontline, CBS Radio and NPR as well as anchoring the Emmy Award-winning talk show “Maria Hinojosa: One-on-One.” In 2010 Hinojosa launched the Futuro Media Group to produce journalism that gives a voice to a more diverse America.

Hinojosa’s visit is the first major speaking engagement to be hosted by the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center since its opening on April 17. As the new front door to UNO’s campus, the center is designed and built to foster dialogue and partnerships between the Omaha community and UNO.

“Maria’s visit couldn’t come at a better time for Omaha and for UNO,” explained Theresa Barron-McKeagney, associate dean of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service. “With poverty, gang violence, food deserts and access to education being huge issues for the entire city, there is a lot we can learn from what Maria has seen and reported on during her career.”

Hinojosa’s presentation is part of a longer visit to Omaha coordinated by UNO. During her visit she will take part in Omaha’s Cinco de Mayo celebration on Tuesday, April 29; speak at a private event hosted by the University of Nebraska Foundation; and meet with students from UNO’s College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media about her career in broadcast journalism.

“The opportunity for UNO students and faculty to learn from someone like Maria doesn’t happen very often” Barron-McKeagney, said. “We are incredibly lucky to have her here.”

Hinojosa was born in Mexico City and raised in Chicago. She is currently the Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz Chair of Latin American and Latino Studies at DePaul University in Chicago and lives with her husband, son and daughter in New York City.

For questions about Maria Hinojosa’s visit, please contact Charley Reed, UNO media relations coordinator, at unonews@unomaha.edu or by phone at 402.554.2129.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

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