News Article

International Author Alma Flor Ada to Tell Her Cuban-American Story at FSW

Nov 2, 2017

NOVEMBER 2, 2017 – FORT MYERS, FLA – International author Dr. Alma Flor Ada will tell the story of her life, experiences and the prejudices she faced as a Cuban-American at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14, in Building AA, Room 177, at the Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) Thomas Edison Campus, 8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers. The event is free and open to the public.

Dr. Ada is the author of books, poetry and novels including Dancing Home, Under the Royal Palms, Where the Flame Trees Bloom, Island Treasures: Growing Up in Cuba, and Yes! We are Latinos. She has received awards for her works including the Christopher Medal, the Pura Belpré Medal, the Marta Salotti Gold Medal, the Once Upon a World Children’s Book Award, and the International Latino Book Award. In 2012, she received the Virginia Hamilton Award in recognition of her body of work for children. She was honored by the Mexican Government in 2014 with the prestigious Ohtli Award for her services to the Mexican communities in the United States.

Born in Camagüey, Cuba, Dr. Ada grew up in La Quinta Simoni in a house owned by the family of Cuban revolutionary Ignacio Agramonte. At the age of 15, Dr. Ada traded a quinceañera party for summer school in the United States, thus beginning her life as a bilingual person. She earned a scholarship to attend Loretto Heights College, where she first encountered discrimination against Mexican-Americans, a discovery inspirational to her diversity appreciation efforts. A professor emerita at the University of San Francisco, Dr. Ada is recognized for her work promoting bilingual and multicultural education in the United States.

Award-winning author and poet Lee Bennett Hopkins will also appear. His books include Been to Yesterdays: Poems of a Life, City I Love and the recent, Traveling the Blue Road: Poems of the Sea.

A book signing will follow the presentation. Books by both authors will be available for purchase at the event.

The event is hosted by the FSW Center for International Education. For more information, contact Whitney Rhyne, director, Strategic Initiatives, at (239) 433-6943 or Whitney.Rhyne@fsw.edu.

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Florida SouthWestern State College is Southwest Florida’s largest and one of the most affordable institutions of higher education. Annually serving nearly 22,000 students globally, FSW offers a variety of nationally-ranked, career-focused academic programs with two- and four-year degrees, and professional certifications. Students are also active in clubs and programs catered to their interests. FSW debuted its intercollegiate athletics program in January 2016. Visit www.FSW.edu for more information.

Last Updated: November 2, 2017