Award winning animator, author, and entrepreneur David Heredia will present a virtual presentation on the African influence in Latin America as part of the NECC White Fund Lecture Series on Oct. 4.

Lawrence, MA (September 23, 2021) In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, David Heredia, an award-winning animator, author, and entrepreneur, will deliver a virtual White Fund Lecture Presentation titled “¿Mami Que Sera Lo Que Quiere El Negro? The African influence in Latin America” on Monday, Oct. 4 at 6:30 pm.

Free and open to the public with pre-registration required, his presentation will highlight Afro-Latino heroes and explore the beauty and influence that African culture has brought to Latin America. The White Fund Lecture Series is a partnership with Northern Essex Community College.

Heredia, who is Dominican, is the founder of Heroes of Color, LLC, an art organization that promotes inclusion and diversity through art and education, and has been featured in the New York Times and on NPR, Telemundo, and more.

His long-term commitment to educating through art led to the creation of his book “Little Heroes of Color” (Scholastic 2019), which introduces 50 men and women of color who “have changed the world.” That book, as well as his second book “The Freelance Hustle”, were both the #1 hot release on Amazon.

An in-demand speaker, Heredia has delivered interactive diversity training for the Walt Disney Company and entrepreneurship workshops for artists at CalArts and Cal State Fullerton and at film festivals across the nation.

He has an associate degree from New York City College of Technology, a BFA in animation from the School of Visual Arts, and has studied motion media design at the Savannah College of Art and Design. From 1997 to 2018, he was CEO and director of animation and design for Heredia Designs, LLC.

Heredia decries the way Afro-Latinos are treated in Latin American countries, sharing that, as recently as 2019, some Latin American countries did not acknowledge Afro-Latinos in their census.

“The treatment of Afro Latinos in Latin America is reminiscent of the systemic racism that still flourishes in the U.S,” he says. “Thanks to the courage of many Afro-Latino heroes, advocates, and intellectuals, our contributions are finally being recognized and stereotypes are being challenged daily.”

Northern Essex is proud to have been named the first Hispanic-Serving Institution in Massachusetts by the U.S. Department of Education in 2001 and to have a student population that is 44% Hispanic.

In addition to this presentation, the Office of Student Life has created a series of events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, including a Latin Lunch, Hispanic Cultural Bingo, and a presentation titled “Latino Immigrant Success Story” featuring Eduardo Crespo ’90 and Alejandra Méndez from the NECC library has also created a guide in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

To register for the October 4 presentation, fill out this form or contact Analuz Garcia at agarcia@necc.mass.edu

The White Fund’s purpose is to have a free series of interactive presentations for Lawrence area adults, youth, and children. The audience is encouraged to seek wisdom, cultural enrichment, and intellectual enhancement by attending and participating.

Funded by a generous financial gift from the Honorable Daniel Appleton White, the White Fund Lecture Series has provided cultural conversation featuring well-known lecturers in fields such as history, literature, travel, the arts, and politics. The White Fund is collaborating with Northern Essex on this series.

The views expressed in the White Fund Enlightenment Series presentations are the views of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Northern Essex.

Northern Essex Community College has campuses in both Haverhill and Lawrence. It offers approximately 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  Each year, 6,000 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 2,000 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley.  For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu or call 978-556-3700.