According to the 2020 census, the Hispanic and Latino population of the City of Reading is nearly 69%, up from 58% in 2010. To meet the needs of this growing population, Penn State Berks is expanding its efforts to engage with and support the local Hispanic and Latino communities with several new initiatives.
With approximately 12% of the population in Berks and Schuylkill Counties living in poverty, food banks are a critical resource for those who face hunger issues. Penn State Berks faculty are collaborating with faculty at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of local food banks. The team has recently received a seed grant from the Penn State Institute for Computational Data Sciences as part of the Inter-Institutional Program for Diversifying Research to explore this issue.
The Penn State Berks AIMS (Artificial Intelligence, Modeling and Simulation) Lab will host a lecture titled “Revolutionizing immersive experiences: The synergy of AI, virtual reality and gamification in learning and user engagement,” delivered by Christian Lopez Bencosme, assistant professor of computer science at Lafayette College, at 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, in Room 121 of the Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building. This event is free and open to the public but advanced registration is required.
As part of the college’s ongoing efforts to engage with and support the local Hispanic and Latino communities, Penn State Berks will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15–Oct. 15, with a variety of vibrant events, educational presentations and cultural showcases. These events include dynamic speakers, Latin cuisine, music, dancing and much more. All events are free and open to the public and most are held at Penn State Berks, except "Enhance Your Customer Service" with Rosa Julia Parra, which will be held at Centro Hispano Daniel Torres in downtown Reading.
"Not One More: A Peace and Justice Project" has been selected as a 2024 Love & Light honoree by the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The Love & Light Recognition Tour spotlights remarkable individuals and organizations that exemplify love, light and upliftment in the community.
Penn State Berks will host its annual youth summer camps starting on Monday, June 17. Camp offerings are for elementary, middle and high school-aged participants and are on-site at the Penn State Berks campus in Spring Township, Pennsylvania.
Penn State Berks hospitality management students presented their veggie research and recipe project to local community members on April 22 at Penn State Health St. Joseph’s Downtown Campus. The presentation was delivered in both English and Spanish.
Students from Penn State Berks and Penn State Mont Alto traveled to Eagle Butte, South Dakota, to spend their spring break volunteering with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Lakota Nation as part of the University’s Alternative Spring Break trips.
The Berks LaunchBox powered by Penn State will host a “Rolling in Safety Family Helmet Decorating” workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, and Tuesday, April 30. Both events are free and open to the public.
In honor of Penn State’s Campus Pride Month, Penn State Berks will host its first Pride Prom beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Multipurpose Room 2 of the Perkins Student Center. The event is open to the public (18 and older).
