What: 

Barcelona was a city that had very few international immigrants before the 1990s, and today over 20 percent of the population is foreign-born. The integration of immigrants into this city has been an overall success story for immigrants and locals. Part of the reason is a theoretical and policy model called interculturalism. The first panel will discuss this policy model and its implications for the U.S.

The second panel will consist of seven flash 5-minute presentations showing results from immigration research conducted by students and researchers in AU’s Immigration Lab, moderated by Maria Luisa Rossel, NTN24 contributing journalist and former Managing Editor of Telemundo 44.

Opening remarks will be given by Isidre Sala, Delegate Government of Catalonia to the U.S.

Panel 1:

Ricard Zapata-Barrero, professor, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, and director of GRITIM-UPF. Currently ARC Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Graduate Center, CUNY. One of the leading representatives of the intercultural policy paradigm in Europe, partner of the Hera Plusrispace project, and advisory member of project EU-Belong.

Xavier Alonso, Senior Policy Officer at the Delegation of the Government of Catalonia to the European Union, who will introduce the project EU-Belong.

Ernesto Castañeda, Director of the Immigration Lab, and Associate Professor of Sociology, will discuss how interculturalism is not an explicit policy in most U.S. cities, but it is often the lived experience of many.

When: 

This is a hybrid event and can be attended in person or online.

The event is from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EST on Thursday June 23.

Where: 

American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave., Washington, D.C., 20016, Discovery Hall, T07 Hall of Science  

Media members must RSVP with Rebecca Basu, AU Communications, to attend online or in-person. In-person attendance includes lunch.