Actress and activist Rosario Dawson is speaking at the University of Alabama as part of a campus celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Dawson will appear Thursday night at UAB's Alys Stephens Center.
The New York native has been featured in many films, including "Men in Black II," ''Josie and the Pussycats," and "25th Hour."
Besides her acting work, Dawson co-founded the non-partisan organization Voto Latino in 2004. The group encourages young Hispanics to register and vote.
Dawson serves as a director for V-Day, which campaigns against violence toward women, and Scenarios USA, which encourages youth to set and achieve goals.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.