Actor, director, producer and community activist Edward James Olmos will give two public talks at MIT on Tuesday, Feb. 29 as part of a two-day visit to the Institute.
Nominated for an Academy Award for his 1991 role in the film Stand and Deliver, Mr. Olmos is becoming increasingly recognized for his participation in humanitarian efforts and as a spokesperson for the Latino community in the United States.
On February 29 from 12-1:30pm in Wong Auditorium, he'll present the Alan Katzenstein Memorial Lecture entitled "The Nature of Community: We're All in the Same Gang," in which he'll discuss "the imperative of creating an inclusive culture in an increasingly diverse, fragmented world and how we can strengthen and grow as a national community by embracing our differences rather than be torn apart by them." The talk will be followed by a book signing of Americanos (1999 Little, Brown), a book edited by Mr. Olmos of photographs and text about the Latino community across America.
From 5-6pm in Wong Auditorium, Mr. Olmos will discuss "Leadership, Values and Ethics."
Mr. Olmos's visit was initiated by Dean of Admissions Marilee Jones and Margaret Keller, associate director of development at the Sloan School of Management. "Margaret and I have worked with Mr. Olmos over the past year because he shares our interest in recruiting top Hispanic students and faculty," said Ms. Jones. "His visit here will reflect the different facets of his passions in life: his acting, his interest in seeing the similarities among peoples instead of the differences, his firm conviction that an ethical life is our birthright."
While at MIT, Mr. Olmos will meet with student groups and individual administrators and faculty, including President Charles M. Vest and Dean Richard Schmalensee of the Sloan School.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on February 16, 2000.
