Shining a light on refugees: LOCO Festival returns to Binghamton
The LOCO Festival returns to Binghamton University from Oct. 10 through 14, to raise awareness of the plight of refugees around the world.
The educational project was originally created in Spain by the Spanish Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (Agencia de la ONU para los Refugiados, or ACNUR) to raise student awareness of refugee issues and the importance of human rights, compassion and activism. The name comes from the idea that when indifference is normal, the only hope comes from being crazy, or loco in Spanish.
The festival seeks to increase cultural competence as a way to promote solidarity and cooperation, which is especially important in light of global events that continue to infringe on human rights, according to the organizers. Overall, the event seeks to increase awareness of local and global issues related to human rights and to inspire the Binghamton community to actively take part in discussion, advocacy and implementing solutions for vulnerable populations.
“There are so many different people from across campus and the community involved in the planning that the LOCO festival is itself a celebration of the best things that diversity can bring to a community,” said Global Studies program coordinator Marisol Marcin.
The festival offers both in-person and virtual events, and local K-12 school districts are invited to participate.
It kicks off with Indigenous People’s Day, shining a light on the human rights issues related to the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. During the course of the week, events will include panel discussions, storytelling sessions and student-organized activities. On the final day, the community will gather for a celebration of diversity, in partnership with student organizations.
Binghamton’s second annual event is a partnership between ACNUR, the Center for Civic Engagement and the American Civic Association in Binghamton, as well as the Global Studies program, the Multicultural Resource Center, the Department of Art and Design and the English Language Institute. Sponsors also include the Department of Romance Languages, the Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention, the Philosophy Department, Comparative Literature, Anthropology, Judaic Studies, the Translation Research and Instruction Program and the Human Rights Institute.
Visit locofestival.org for the schedule of events.