Grass Valley, CA (February 20, 2019) –As part of the Sierra College Semana Latina celebration at the Nevada County Campus beginning on March 11th, Keynote Speaker, Kristanne Heaton will give a presentation titled: Guantanamo Bay – You CAN Handle the Truth. The presentation will begin at 6 pm in the Multi-purpose room.
Kristanne Heaton is a history teacher for the Ghidotti Early College High School. She and her family have recently returned from living in Guantanamo Bay for two years. Their stories are thought provoking and their personal observations are sure to tap into current social dynamics.
Premise
What happens when you take an average family from California and drop them down in an isolated corner of eastern Cuba that also just happens to be the site of the world’s most notorious detention center? From Camp America to Camp X-Ray and back to Marblehead Lanes for Cosmic Bowling, Kristanne and Sid Heaton and their two children experienced everything that civilized life had to offer on Naval Station Guantánamo Bay while Mrs. Heaton taught at the base school serving the dependents of service members.
Travel along with the Heaton family as they share their often surreal journey through two years of everyday life in the absurdist paradise of GTMO and its 47 square miles of cognitive dissonance, where “living on island time” is one part Fantasy Island and one part Gulag Archipelago. You’ll hear what it’s like to attend military commissions for the notorious “9/11 Five” at Camp Justice, beachcomb for exotic shells beneath the razor wire of the Camp Delta detention center, and, importantly, how to distinguish the detonation sensations of expired ordnance from actual earthquakes. Bring your flip-flops, but mind the concertina — we’re going to Gitmo!
The Semana Latina celebration is free and open to the public. There is a $3 daily parking fee on campus. Parking permits may be purchased at the kiosk machine located at the campus main entrance.
About Sierra College
Sierra College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3200 square miles of Northern CA with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four-year Universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills. Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information at