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Cover of Empanadas, Pupusas and Greens on the Side

Register 46 Seats Remaining

Empanadas, Pupusas and Greens on the Side

Author Amelia Tseng in Conversation with Canek Aguirre

2025-10-21 18:30:00 2025-10-21 19:30:00 America/New_York Empanadas, Pupusas and Greens on the Side Join Alexandria Library and Tenants and Workers United to hear from author Amelia Tseng on her recent book "Empanadas, Pupusas and Greens on the Side: Language and Latinidad in the Nation's Capital." Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library -

Tuesday, October 21
6:30pm - 7:30pm

Add to Calendar 2025-10-21 18:30:00 2025-10-21 19:30:00 America/New_York Empanadas, Pupusas and Greens on the Side Join Alexandria Library and Tenants and Workers United to hear from author Amelia Tseng on her recent book "Empanadas, Pupusas and Greens on the Side: Language and Latinidad in the Nation's Capital." Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library -

Join Alexandria Library and Tenants and Workers United to hear from author Amelia Tseng on her recent book "Empanadas, Pupusas and Greens on the Side: Language and Latinidad in the Nation's Capital."

In the 1980s, Washington, DC—a predominantly African American, racially and economically segregated city with a strong local Black culture—became a hub of Latin American immigration. As the city's communities interacted, an identity both unique to DC and reflective of diverse Latin American cultures was born.

Empanadas, Pupusas, and Greens on the Side is the first linguistics book to explore how the Latinx community forged a new sense of home and identity in Washington. Using original ethnographic research—including interviews, narratives, and surveys—Tseng develops a new framework for understanding the relationship between race, identity, language, and culture, and she explains what happens when communities interact.

Readers interested in the cultural history of Washington, Latinx history, and language and society will enjoy this rich study of language as a cross-cultural current in ever-evolving America.

Books may be purchased from Georgetown University Press. Enter code: TGUF to receive 30% off the list price.  https://press.georgetown.edu/Book/Empanadas-Pupusas-and-Greens-on-the-Side

Amelia Tseng

Dr. Amelia Tseng is Assistant Professor in Spanish and Linguistics. Her research addresses how language shapes and is shaped by identity across immigrant generations in Latinx diasporic contexts, focusing on multilingualism, dialect variation, discourse, and the construction of ethnoracial and cultural identity.

Canek Aguirre

Canek Aguirre was first elected to the Alexandria City Council in November 2018 and re-elected to a third term in November 2024. Born and raised in Los Angeles to Mexican immigrants, Canek is the first Latino to ever serve on the City Council.

Tenants and Workers United

For nearly 40 years, Tenants and Workers United has been organizing low-income communities of color to build power through community-led campaigns for affordable housing, health equity, education justice, police accountability, immigrants' rights, and more. TWU centers education and leadership development to help people become change agents, and we practice civic engagement to secure sustainable systemic changes that advance racial, economic, and social justice across Northern Virginia.

Local History/Special Collections

Local History/Special Collections houses many resources for those interested in Alexandria and Virginia history and genealogy and the Civil War. Major activities include generating online exhibits, collection guides and genealogy indexes. 

Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library

jcahill@alexlibraryva.org
Phone: 703.746.1703
Fax: 703.746.1708
Branch manager
James Cahill

Hours
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Mon, Sep 29 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Sep 30 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Oct 01 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Oct 02 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Oct 03 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sat, Oct 04 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Oct 05 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the branch

Parking: No library parking lot.  Street parking is available.  A paid parking lot is available on the 100 block of North Alfred Street. 

Public Transit:

  • Metrorail: Yellow and Blue lines at Braddock Road (1 mile) and King Street Stations (1.1 miles). 
  • Metrobus: A11, A12, F19
  • DASH Bus: 30, 31, Old Town Circulator
  • King Street Trolley:  King & Columbus

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact jgregorio@alexlibraryva.org or call 703.746.1701 or TTY 703.746.1790.

Upcoming Events

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Sat, Oct 04, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Ages 14+. Develop and exercise your spanish conversation skills.
Registration is now closed

Mon, Oct 06, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Second Floor
Kick off Banned Books Week by celebrating the freedom to read with a Banned Books Book Tasting! Recommend your favorites and discover new books to try while eating pastries!

Tue, Oct 07, 10:00am - 11:30am
Outdoors
Let's get some fresh air, explore Old Town, and talk about the latest books we've been reading!

Tue, Oct 07, 10:30am - 10:45am
Youth Services Area
This Hispanic Heritage Month, start your morning with stories, rhymes and songs in English and Spanish!

Tue, Oct 07, 11:00am - 11:40am
Youth Services Area
Just right for ages 0-23 months. Songs, games, movement activities, and bubbles.

Tue, Oct 07, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Second Floor
Show off your Freedom to Read by making a bottle cap pin honoring frequently challenged books and words.

Wed, Oct 08, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Youth Services Area
Just for babies ages 0-12 months. Sólo para bebés de 0 a 12 meses.

Rescheduled
Wed, Oct 08, 6:30pm - 7:45pm
New date Thursday, October 23, 6:30pm - 7:45pm
Join this 3-part series with certified educator Byul Yim to learn Korean in a fun, small-group setting.

Thu, Oct 09, 11:00am - 11:45am
Youth Services Area
Stories, songs, movement and more for ages 2-5

Thu, Oct 09, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Second Floor
The Barrett Branch Mahjong group meets the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Space is available for up to 12 players, so it's first come first served as game tables fill.

Thu, Oct 09, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Second Floor
Looking to join a Dungeons and Dragons group? Look no further!
This event is full

Sat, Oct 11, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Second Floor
AWLA's Behavior and Training Manager will provide tips for living harmoniously with your dog or cat at home, answer specific questions about your pet, and chat about AWLA's Alexandria Animal Academy.

Tue, Oct 14, 10:30am - 10:45am
Youth Services Area
This Hispanic Heritage Month, start your morning with stories, rhymes and songs in English and Spanish!

Tue, Oct 14, 11:00am - 11:40am
Youth Services Area
Just right for ages 0-23 months. Songs, games, movement activities, and bubbles.

Wed, Oct 15, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Youth Services Area
Just for babies ages 0-12 months. Sólo para bebés de 0 a 12 meses.

Wed, Oct 15, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Second Floor
Let's paint at the library! Follow along to instructions to create the monthly painting or create your own unique work of art!

Thu, Oct 16, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Get help with applications. Appointments are available at 10 and 11 AM. Please call 703-746-1721 to schedule an appointment.

Thu, Oct 16, 11:00am - 11:45am
Youth Services Area
Stories, songs, movement and more for ages 2-5

Thu, Oct 16, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Second Floor
Join Barrett Branch’s fiber arts group making items to donate.

Thu, Oct 16, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Second Floor
Adults and teens are encouraged to create the worst pieces of art they have ever seen to win a prize for worst artwork!

Sat, Oct 18, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Second Floor
Let's paint rocks! Make them creepy for Halloween or cutesy for the Fall season! (Or paint them however you want!)

Sat, Oct 18, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Come play Dungeons & Dragons. No experience necessary. Open to ages 8-13.
This event is full

Tue, Oct 21, 10:30am - 10:45am
Youth Services Area
This Hispanic Heritage Month, start your morning with stories, rhymes and songs in English and Spanish!

Tue, Oct 21, 11:00am - 11:40am
Youth Services Area
Just right for ages 0-23 months. Songs, games, movement activities, and bubbles.

Tue, Oct 21, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Join Alexandria Library and Tenants and Workers United to hear from author Amelia Tseng on her recent book "Empanadas, Pupusas and Greens on the Side: Language and Latinidad in the Nation's Capital."

Wed, Oct 22, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Youth Services Area
Just for babies ages 0-12 months. Sólo para bebés de 0 a 12 meses.

Rescheduled
Wed, Oct 22, 6:30pm - 7:45pm
New date Thursday, October 30, 6:30pm - 7:45pm
Join this 3-part series with certified educator Byul Yim to learn Korean in a fun, small-group setting.

Thu, Oct 23, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Get help with applications. Appointments are available at 10 and 11 AM. Please call 703-746-1721 to schedule an appointment.

Thu, Oct 23, 11:00am - 11:45am
Youth Services Area
Stories, songs, movement and more for ages 2-5

Thu, Oct 23, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Second Floor
The Barrett Branch Mahjong group meets the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Space is available for up to 12 players, so it's first come first served as game tables fill.

Thu, Oct 23, 6:30pm - 7:45pm
Second Floor
Join this 3-part series with certified educator Byul Yim to learn Korean in a fun, small-group setting.