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Founded on September 6, 2006, the Center for Chilean-American Studies (CCAS) is an organization which seeks to promote public awareness about the presence of immigrants from Chile in North America. As the center's founding constitution states, " Chilean-Americans bring a diverse heritage to North America." The motto of the organization is simply "Un mundo sin Chilenos es un mundo sin corazon." In English, this translates roughly into "A world without Chileans is a world without a heart."

Juan C. Wester, an undergraduate student at the University of Dallas, began the organization in his dorm room on his campus in Irving, TX. Since then, the CCAS has experienced tremendous growth as Wester and numerous other Chilean-Americans at various universities around the country cooperated into forming the National Organization of Chilean American Studies (NOCAS). Still officially under the control of Mr. Wester, the CCAS remains autonomous from the NOCAS. The CCAS is currently searching for appropriate office space to accommodate increased interest coming from the Hispanic community in Texas and around the country.

[edit] Current News

On August 28, 2008, the CCAS will host a talk from former Chilean presidential candidate, Nicolas Sagues. The event will be held at 7:00pm in Lynch Auditorium at the University of Dallas in Irving, TX. Mr. Sagues will be discussing the role of the United States in the Chilean Coup of 1973. Admission is free.

On August 30, 2008, the CCAS will be hosting their first annual Chilean Chili Cook-Off. The event will be held on the central mall of the University of Dallas. The entries will be judged by Chilean culinary expert, Carlos Zuberubermooverslav.