"Creation-Resistance in the Struggle for Mexican American Studies" by Angela Valenzuela, Ph.D. July 11, 2025 at the San Antonia MAS Teachers' Academy

Friends,

I’m deeply honored to be keynoting at this year’s “MAS Teachers' Academy,” an inspiring initiative founded by Dr. Keta Miranda and now directed by Dr. Lilliana Saldaña, Dr. Gloria Gonzales, and Christina Soliz. Emilio and I highlighted this important work in our recent blog post, “The Need for Ethnic Studies Policy in Texas,” where we discussed the remarkable growth of Mexican American Studies classes across the state.

Certified Texas teachers will earn Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits for attending—credits that, by Texas law, must be renewed every five years. It’s a rare and meaningful opportunity to center Mexican American Studies as the focus of professional development. Educators from outside Texas are also welcome to join this powerful learning space that is accessible virtually if you register. The QR code is on the flyers below.

Follow the MAS Teachers' Academy on Instagram, as well, which explains the following: 

"This year’s theme is “A Decade of Creation-Resistance and MAS Legacies in Tejas” in celebration of our collective labor and grassroots organizing in growing and sustaining MAS in Texas PreK-12 schools over the past 10 years. 🙌🏾🔥🙌🏾🔥

We pay homage to MAS/Chicanx Studies scholar activist, Dr. Roberto Cintli Rodriguez(QEPD), and his concept of creation-resistance. Dr. Cintli’s concept reminds us of the importance of connecting to our creative expressions and ancestral practices like poetry, dance, song, writing, art, food, and ceremony in our struggles for humanization, social justice, and a culturally-sustaining education. With this in mind, this year’s academy will focus on how we can continue to center our community’s creative expressions and ancestral practices in our MAS curriculum and pedagogy. 🌽🌽🌽

We hope you can join us for this week-long academy which will include outstanding keynotes by leading MAS scholars, teacher-led curriculum workshops, pláticas, and student panels.

Special thanks to the amazing Ernesto Cuevas Jr. for creating this gorgeous poster which captures the spirit of this year’s academy!"

Adelante!"  @masteachersacademy

 

It is a true honor to uplift the legacy of the late Dr. Roberto Cintli Rodriguez by centering his powerful concept of creation-resistance—a hopeful and visionary framework that will ground my talk on the future of Mexican American and Ethnic Studies in Texas. With deep gratitude to our dedicated colleagues at the University of Texas at San Antonio—your tireless, committed work continues to inspire and uplift us all.

-Angela Valenzuela

#CreationResistance #EthnicStudies #MAS