Mesomerican Studies Group Activity Report and Budget—Fall 2021

The Mesoamerican Studies Group (MSG) aims to open a creative space for
dialogue and bilateral relationships between various academic fields and
communities outside academia. As a multidisciplinary and transversal organization
born among members of the GC from diverse backgrounds, we will actively re-think
and question the concept of Mesoamerica. Mesoamerica has historically and
anthropologically been defined as the geographic area encompassing Central
Mexico to Honduras and Nicaragua in which pre-Columbian civilizations flourished.
The MSG’s goal is to challenge the epistemological hegemony of this definition and
open a space for the inclusion of diverse voices. We aim to foster a global network of relationships that allows us to transcend the specificity of the concept Mesoamerica and negotiate it from a holistic point of view. The way we envision this is by creating a space for professional development; for example, hosting a series of “Virtual Encounters (via Skype)” with scholars and people outside academic contexts to discuss topics of common interest. The second main goal of MSG is to open up academia to the larger public, engaging in open dialogue with diverse communities in New York City to construct collaborative research that stretches the boundaries of Latin American studies. We want to create platforms for projects and workshops collaborations, thus including and learning from commonly silenced or underrepresented spaces and voices. The organization will have two co-chairs that will be elected by direct vote and with the approval of all the members. The co-chairs will rotate every semester. Memberships will be extended to those committed to join the group and work collaboratively.