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CORVALLIS - Oregon State University is sponsoring the second annual Conference on Chicanas & Latinas in the Northwest to be held Saturday, April 26, at Central High School in Independence.

The daylong conference is open to the public and, according to coordinator Erlinda Gonzales-Berry, is not intended for an academic audience. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the final session is expected to end at 5:30 p.m.

Registration at the door is $30 for professional women and $20 for community women and students.

"The program reaches out to women from all walks of life," said Gonzales-Berry, chair of the OSU Department of Ethnic Studies. "Last year it was attended by high school and college students, professional and career women, as well as community women who don't speak English."

Workshops will focus on issues such as Chicanas and labor, Latinas in politics, Chicana sexuality, Latinas in leadership roles, and Chicana artists.

"We offer panels on a variety of topics and issues that affect the lives of Latina women in Oregon, and this conference is about Latinas educating Latinas and women coming together to share their experiences and to dialog about solutions to issues that affect their lives," Gonzales-Berry said.

The OSU Department of Ethnic Studies is sponsoring the event in association with other groups from around the region. Contributions from the Portland Guadalajara Sister Cities Program, El Hispanic News, Hewlett Packard, Wells Fargo Bank, and several OSU organizations have made this event possible.

To learn more about the conference or to register go to www.oregonstate.edu/dept/ethnic_studies/mujeres.