Who is Roy Germano and why would he be a good speaker for my event?
Dr. Roy Germano is the award winning director of The Other Side of Immigration, a bestselling documentary film that provides a rare look at the root causes of Mexican immigration and challenges Americans to think more critically and creatively about the immigration issue. He is a dynamic public speaker who has gives presentations on immigration issues and Mexican culture at institutions and conferences around the country.
Roy made The Other Side of Immigration while doing Ph.D. research in rural Mexico as a National Science Foundation Fellow. He brings a practical and authoritative voice to the immigration debate that all sides can appreciate. He’s provided commentary on networks as different as Fox News, NPR, The Huffington Post, The Economist, Univision’s Al Punto with Jorge Ramos, and many others.
Can you provide references/testimonials from past events?
Sure. Click here to read testimonials from Roy’s most recent speaking engagements.
How do I book Roy Germano to speak at my event and/or present and discuss The Other Side of Immigration?
Email booking@roygermano.com and tell us a little about your event, when it will take place, and any other details you think are relevant. Someone will get back to you as quickly as possible with information on costs and scheduling.
Where is Roy based?
Brooklyn, New York.
Is Roy open to doing Q&As via Skype?
Yes, just ask.
Who do Roy’s talks tend to appeal to?
Roy has given engaging, informative, and entertaining speeches and Q&A sessions to a wide range of audiences, including the
- Minnesota Department of Education
- University of Alabama-Birmingham Medical School
- Princeton University Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs
- American Museum of Natural History
- United States Naval Academy
- Brooklyn Public Library
- Texas Department of Public Health
- NYC Immigrant Heritage Week
- and dozens and dozens of churches, conferences, colleges, universities, and community organizations.
Roy’s talks tend to appeal to just about anyone interested in learning about immigration, particularly,
- undergraduate and high school students
- medical/public health professionals
- law students/legal professionals
- public policy specialists
- military personnel
- agriculture professionals
- education professionals
How many people can we expect to attend Roy’s screenings/talks?
Roy’s campus events regularly attract 100-250 people. But it all depends on the size of the campus and how much the event is promoted. Attendance reliably increases with the number of event cosponsors.
What do Roy’s visits include?
Usually some combination of the following activities:
- A screening of The Other Side of Immigration (55 min), followed by an energetic and engaging Q&A session (30-45 min). Roy introduces the film and runs the Q&A.
- A keynote speech on any or a combination of the topics listed below (ranging from 30-90 min, depending on event schedule), followed by a Q&A session.
- Classroom visits (seminar or lecture-style).
- One-on-one advising, meetings, or consulting with students/faculty/professionals.
- Storytelling, small-group discussions and/or meet-and-greet at luncheons or receptions.
- Roy is also willing to participate in panel discussions.
It’s rare that all of these activities would be scheduled for a single visit. For example, a typical 24-hour visit to a college will usually include a film screening, post-screening Q&A, and reception (either before or after the movie) and possibly a classroom visit and/or lunch the next morning. A 2-day visit may include a keynote speech and lunch/dinner in addition to the above. A 3-day visit may include a handful of classroom lectures/seminars and student advising in addition to the above (like a brief residency). Roy’s conference appearances are generally 24-hour visits that include a keynote speech, film screening, and Q&A session.
Every event is different, so please let us know what you want and how we can design the best event for you. Roy is also happy to incorporate your ideas if you have any specific proposals or requests.
What topics will Roy discuss in keynotes speeches?
Roy’s speeches usually touch upon the following topics, but he is happy to add or omit topics if you have any special requests.
- the root causes of undocumented immigration from the perspective of people living in rural Mexico
- the impact of money (“remittances”) that immigrants send back to their home countries
- the impact of immigration/deportation on families
- the challenges and hardships faced by undocumented immigrants when crossing the US-Mexico border
- recent and historical developments in US immigration policy, prospects for immigration reform, and novel solutions to the issue of undocumented immigration.
What topics will Roy discuss during classroom visits or other campus gatherings, like brown bag lunches, coffee hour, or happy hour?
Roy is comfortable in both lecture, seminar, and small-group settings and can speak to your students about a range of topics, including:
- the immigration-related topics he discusses in his keynote speeches.
- an inspirational talk about his quest to learn Spanish in adulthood–a quest that began in the kitchen of a restaurant and which led to appearances on national Spanish language TV! (talk given in English or Spanish)
- the process of making/self-funding a social issue documentary; how small budget documentaries can have a big impact.
- Son Huasteco, a little known style of Mexican folk music and topic of Roy’s forthcoming documentary
Should we look for co-sponsors? How do we go about that?
Roy’s campus visits are usually sponsored by few groups or departments. We’ve worked with all kinds of groups over the years. Here are some examples of groups/departments you could team up with. Just send them an email and ask if they would be willing to contribute a couple hundred dollars toward the event:
- Multicultural/Diversity Affairs
- Student Activities
- Student organizations, fraternities, and sororities
- Public/Environmental Affairs
- Education (particularly bilingual education)
- Social Work
- Law
- Sociology
- Political Science
- Criminal Justice
- Latino/Latin American Studies
- Mexican/Mexican-American Studies
- American Studies
- Anthropology
- Business
- Economics
- Psychology
- Spanish Language and Literature
- International Affairs
- Public Policy
- Medicine/Public Health
- and others!
What expenses are involved?
Fees and expenses can vary depending on the type of event you are planning. Please email booking@roygermano.com to let us know what kind of event you are planning and what your budget looks like. We’ll give you a quote immediately.