9 minute read
Our People
from The University of New Mexico Latin American & Iberian Institute 2021-2022 Annual Report
by UNMLAII
K-12 Educational Outreach
The LAII provides outreach to K-12 educators and students in order to enhance and expand understanding of Latin American cultures and languages across grade levels and content areas. This outreach takes the form of: • Professional development workshops, developed in partnership with other local and national organizations as well as with LAII-affiliated faculty • Vamos a leer, our blog focused on culturally-responsive children’s literature relating to Latin America • Free curricular resources • Local lending resources, including our classroom book sets • Youth events • Teacher Advisory Committee
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To help build global competencies among students, the LAII offers free professional development opportunities and develops curricula related to Latin America. Beyond just teaching about Latin America, the LAII’s K-12 programs emphasize providing culturally relevant content to students in New Mexico and across the United States. In this way, we also work to bridge the gap between K-12 education and academia.
In a state in which Spanish is an official language, many residents come from Latin American backgrounds, and the state’s own history is informed by a long legacy of exchange with the broader Americas, rich and culturally appropriate content is critical to ensuring that New Mexico students are able to see themselves in the materials they study.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic was, and continues to be, a challenging time for educators and students. Because of this, the LAII pivoted to virtual programing and providing even more classroom- (including virtual- and hybrid-) ready resources. An unexpected result of this challenge was the ability to reach educators and students beyond New Mexico. Since our virtual programming began, we have reached teachers in several states outside of New Mexico.
SPOTLIGHT: FOR ALL/PARA TODOS: TEACHING IMMIGRATION & ACTIVISM IN THE K-12 CLASSROOM
In October 2021, we hosted a free professional development to explore how to teach immigration and activism in the K-12 classroom. We were joined by Alejandra Domenzain, author of For All/Para Todos.
As part of this series, the LAII also participated in a panel discussion/workshop organized by UnidosUS, a civil rights and advocacy organization. The event presented curriculums and best practices for integrating social justice from the LAII and UnidosUS Affiliate, Cesar Chavez Foundation, in a conversation moderated by Alejandra Domenzain.
In February 2022, we hosted a free professional development to explore how to incorporate and teach sounds in the K-12 classroom. We are especially grateful to Dr. Ana Alonso Minutti, who presented a workshop entitled “Living and Learning through Sound: Developing a Sonic Epistemology” as part of this broader workshop entitled “Incorporating Global and Latin American Sounds into the Classroom”
Drawing from her recent fieldwork in Costa Rica, Dr. Ana Alonso Minutti addressed ways in which artists and scientists associated with the Universidad de Costa Rica, in conjunction with local activists, have developed the workbook ¡Escuchá conmigo! (2021), an invitation for kids and young adults to engage in an exercise of listening through the body to connect with nature. Having grown up in Mexico, she addressed a similar project developed in her home country, Suena Mexico (2016), an illustrated book that tells a story using the yells and calls of street public services (el gas, la basura, tamales, etc.). Taking these two book projects as case examples, she proposed ways in which teachers and students can think through sound and engage in creative exercises to promote human and nonhuman connections. An active hiker, Ana introduced the practice of soundwalking as yet another way of developing a sonic epistemology. By sharing her recent experience walking over 80 kms of El Camino de Santiago (Spain), she proposed doing soundwalks to create harmony between body, mind, and soul by listening through walking. Lastly, drawing from her time living in Albuquerque for the past eight years, Ana addressed the ways in which the unique New Mexican soundscape has been a catalyst for her research, teaching, and composing.
Following Ana’s presentation, participants further explored how to incorporate sound into their classroom teaching. What does the world sound like? What does Latin America sound like? How is sound a form of resistance and sovereignty? The resources provided are applicable across grade levels, languages, and subject areas. An educator book guide on Hungry Listening (2020) was also provided and discussed.
SPOTLIGHT: INDIGENOUS CLIMATE RESILIENCIES IN LATIN AMERICA: TEACHING CLIMATE JUSTICE AND LOCAL ACTIVISM THROUGH DOCUMENTARY FILM
In March 2022, we hosted a free professional development workshop to explore how climate change impacts Latin American Indigenous communities, such as the Yaqui, Maya, and Wixárika, through the documentary film La Vocera, directed by Luciana Kaplan.
We were also very lucky to be joined by 350 New Mexico’s Nancy Weeks Singham and Stefi Weisburd for this workshop. Addressing the need to support local teachers in climate education, and recognizing the importance of youth voices on this issue, they are developing a climate change curriculum to help educate and activate middle school students. In this workshop, Nancy and Stefi introduced the outline of their 4-day middle school “Climate Hope: From Knowledge to Action” pilot unit and point to a few other ways your students can engage in climate action.
Learn more at https://350newmexico.org, noting “Teaching Climate Change” resources.
The curricular unit developed by the LAII focuses on a broader collective resistance of Indigenous peoples in Latin America and their leadership in the fight for climate justice. The resources presented include an entire unit on the documentary La Vocera, and two additional lesson plans - one of which encourages students to create their own documentary on climate justice and resiliency in their own communities.
In April 2022, we hosted a free professional development workshop for educators to explore the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Convention of Parties (COP26).
We were very excited to be joined by Dr. Andreas Hernandez, who conducted a presentation during the first half of the workshop. Dr. Hernandez’ research, filmmaking and teaching examines just transitions to sustainability and regeneration. His focus is on social movements and ecovillages in Brazil, and their construction of agroecological systems and emergent politics and worldviews. He also examines how social movement activity can be translated and implemented into social policy and may engage with the United Nations System.
In this presentation, Dr. Hernandez provided a background on the United Nations System, its history, and its global role. He also provided an overview of the Paris Agreement. Combined, this presentation provided educators with the background needed to engage with this topic in the classroom.
Following the presentation by Dr. Hernandez, the workshop presented opportunities for educators to apply the knowledge learned in the context of teaching COP26, and allied Indigenous climate activism, in the classroom.
These included activities that explain the COP (What is it? What happened? Why is it important?) and a stimulated conference/debate activity mirroring the COP process. Additionally, a media literacy lesson plan was presented which prepares students to critically analyze content featured in the media, focusing on COP26 and Indigenous climate activism.
This workshop connects to the broader theme of the spring 2022 semester by centering Indigenous voices, experiences, power, and activism as it pertains to climate justice. It provides educators with pertinent resources to approach the topic of COP26 which have the potential to stimulate students to think about climate globally and realize their potential to protect our planet.
K-12 TEACHER ADVISORY COUNCIL
Twice a year the LAII’s Teacher Advisory Committee, composed of pre-service educators and in-service educators from private, public and charter schools across New Mexico and the United States advises the development of our K-12 programs. With their input, the programs have continued to grow and expand, reaching ever greater numbers of educators, students, their families, and their communities. We would like to thank the following educators who joined us for the fall 2022 council session: • Cynthia Jackson • Teresa Drenten • Gina Gonzalez-Young • Claudia Reyes • Silvina Farmin • Mary Beth Howe • Monica Nuñez
Our People
The LAII functions as a network of faculty, students, independent scholars, K-12 educators, and community members. Our programs sustain this network and benefit from it, contributing to UNM’s rich environment for the study and teaching of Latin America and Iberia. These diverse affiliates regularly come together to share approaches to understanding the region.
LAII FOSTERS A
DYNAMIC COMMUNITY OF
SCHOLARSHIP WITHIN AND
BEYOND UNM
Our People Faculty
The LAII draws together a diverse community of affiliated faculty from across campus who comprise our Faculty Concilium. To ensure disciplinary representation in our programs, awards, and events, we have four faculty committees that provide guidance:
• Executive Committee • Grants and Awards Committee • Operations Committee • Interdisciplinary Committee on Latin American Studies (ICLAS)
The collective advice gathered through the committees is put into action by professional staff who carry out the day-today operations of the Institute.
Our People Staff
Frances Hayashida Director
Lenny Ureña Valerio Associate Director for Program Development
Kathryn McKnight Associate Director for Academic Programs
Marleen Linares-Gonzalez Communication & Outreach Specialist
Mary “Emmy” Tither K-12 Education Program Coordinator
Jason Farmer Unit Administrator A big “thank you” to the graduate assistants and teaching assistants for their contributions in 2021-22 to the LAII and our partners:
Pablo Arias-Benavides Robert Donnelly Jasmine Morse Miles Nowlin Soledad Roybal Whitney Wagner Dominic Baca Joselin Castillo David Juarez Davila Alexandra Rivas Kelsey Varisco Miguel Sabol Alejandra Balbuena
Give Back to the LAII
Whether the LAII helped you finish your dissertation, launch your career trajectory, conduct research, or simply strengthen your interest in Latin American studies, we’re proud of our alumni and friends and want to continue to help support future students embark on similar endeavors.
To learn more about our funds and to donate, visit laii. unm.edu/give-now.html or contact the LAII at (505) 277-2961.
The University of New Mexico Latin American & Iberian Institute
LAII.UNM.EDU
