Friends,
It's such a vast juxtaposition to be sharing with you our upcoming event, "Education with Heart: A Community Conversation," taking place this Saturday, May 4, from 10AM-3PM while simultaneously witnessing state violence and repression at this very moment at UT Austin. This is playing out on college campuses nationwide, as well, as we know.
Like my grandfather, who was a Baptist minister, used to say, "El diablo anda afuera," meaning that "the devil is running amok."
It sure feels like it. I hear students tell me that they are fearful, that they feel bruised, that they are angry, sad, and disgusted. And let's not let it get past us that this year's undergraduate graduating class sat out the pandemic four years earlier, seriously impacting life's milestones that the rest of us have taken for granted.
Atop this, our students here at UT are literally still coping with the shock of losing their programs, initiatives, mentors, and supporters as a consequence of Senate Bill 17 (Texas' anti-DEI bill), and now they are experiencing added violence, both symbolic and real.
So much dark, noxious emotion in the air right now. People speak in whispers, censuring themselves. Are we not still in a democracy where we all have a voice and are guided by democratic principles?
Que triste. How sad, especially when there is still so much good—and good to be had—in the world. I remain confident that there still exists a real promise of better days WHEN we commit to supporting ALL of our youth, particularly the most vulnerable. Why can't we not evolve as human beings and as a culture into an ethic that centers, instead of intentionally harms, young people? They are our future, our treasure, our joy.
Texas parents, I know that I speak on behalf of most, if not all, UT faculty that we love your children. What we are witnessing right now is way beyond the bounds of what should ever get considered as normal.
Ok, so now I'm putting out something into the atmosphere that is super positive, namely, Academia Cuauhtli's 10th Anniversary celebration! I've blogged on it occasionally since 2014. For those of us involved, it is a labor of love.🩷
Throughout the day, we will be speaking Spanish, English, Spanglish, and translanguaging, playing with language, celebrating bilingualism, and culture (see details below).
As the late poet and artist José Antonio Burciaga used to say, "La cultura cura," meaning that "culture heals." I can definitely say that Academia Cuauhtli is what has sustained our community through the years.
Open to the public. Welcome all!
-Angela Valenzuela
Follow us on Twitter: @AcadCuauhtli
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcademiaCuauhtli/
Instagram: @acadcuauhtli
Event hashtags: #LaCulturaCura #Palabra #JovenNoble #CulturalHealing #EmpowerYouth #EmpoweringYouth #strongyouth
Hope you can join us this coming Saturday morning to be in community with us as we celebrate Educación con Corazón, our tenth-anniversary celebration of Academia Cuauhtli. It’s amazing just how quickly the time has flown.
Bring your babies, children, and family members. Educators doing work in the community might be particularly interested in joining us and learning about our work. We’ll have bouncy houses for the chiildren, food, pláticas, musical performances, a raffle, and other goodies. We’re showing some love to the Dove Springs community. It’s over at 3 PM.
Info below, as well as attached on who we are as a community-based initiative. Do reach out to Dr. Maria Unda (copied) if you have any questions. Please help us get the word out, too.
-Angela Valenzuela, Ph.D.
***
Summit Title: Educación con Corazón: Una Plática Comunitaria/ Education with Heart: A Community Conversation
Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024 | Time: 10am - 3pm
Location: Consuelo Mendez Middle School, 5106 Village Square Drive Austin, TX 78744 (not the charter school part)
About the Summit:
"Educación con Corazón: A Comm(unity) Conversation" is a summit convened by Academia Cuauhtli to champion equitable access to transformative education by integrating bilingual education, cultural arts institutions, and indigenous epistemologies into public schools. In celebration of Academia Cuauhtli’s ten-year journey, this public gathering expresses a profound commitment to cultural heritage, social justice consciousness, and collective identities for educational freedom.
Bringing together educators, students, parents, school board members, and community members, we are dedicated to fostering a collaborative environment where diverse voices come together to shape the future of education. Emphasizing cultural diversity, healing, and artistic expression, we strive to create holistic learning spaces that champion educational freedom.
Event Links:
City Event Landing Page:
Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/1ZcwBUEYD
Eventbrite:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/education-with-heart-a-community-celebration-tickets-873709006157
Register on Eventbrite
Furthermore, in recognition of AISD's support, we warmly invite y'all to join us for an exclusive VIP breakfast before the summit at 9 am. This intimate gathering presents a unique opportunity for our esteemed attendees, including keynotes, education, and community leaders, to forge connections and delve deeper into potential collaborations. Noteworthy attendees include Superintendent Matias Segura, esteemed members of the AISD School Board, distinguished members of the City of Austin Council, and influential education policymakers. Their enthusiasm for engaging in substantive dialogue and sharing insights promises to enrich the summit experience for all participants.
Sincerely,
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