Thirty-two Latin@ and Chican@ Colorado high school students are immersing themselves in college life and learning July 12th-18th at the University of Colorado Boulder as part of the third annual Aquetza: Youth Leadership, Education and Community Empowerment summer program.
The free residential program provides high school students with strong ties to Latin@ and Chican@ communities with an interactive academic and community-building experience focused on engaging youth in examining the history, literature, health science and relevant social and political issues surrounding their cultural communities. This happens through rigorous academic work in ethnic studies, writing, reading and science combined with individual and group reflection on personal experiences.
In Nahuatl, the language of indigenous people of central and northern Mexico, “aquetza” roughly translates as, “lift your chin up.” This was chosen with great intention and embodies what the Aquetza summer program is all about: To empower youth of all backgrounds with strong ties to Latin@ and Chican@ communities across Colorado to develop powerful connections between academics and community progress.
Participants from Denver, Boulder, Longmont, Aurora, Cherry Creek, Pueblo, Erie and Firestone will be able to see themselves as scholars and develop the skills to become leaders in their communities, to pursue higher education and to make positive change in their worlds.
The program, co-founded and directed by Jasón Romero, Jr., a master’s student in education, and CU Boulder doctoral alumnus Mike Domínguez, was intended to revive a summer bridge program that CU’s United Mexican-American Students Association (UMAS) led in the 1970s to bring Latin@ and Chican@ youth to campus.
The week includes transdisciplinary and collaborative learning, experiences of campus life and of meaningful sites of activism, such as UMAS activities and Teatro del Oprimido, and evening presentations. At the same time, Aquetza offers educator development through rich critical pedagogy for CU Boulder undergraduate education students.
For example, students last year participated in a “photo voice” activity, in which they shared photos of aspects of their own communities that they perceived as positive and negative. After learning about history, political systems and systemic issues, students reexamined the problems and imagined new ways to contribute to social change.
"It was inspiring to see CU Boulder students and youth engaged together in culturally sustaining pedagogy in a way that builds community and validates identity, while showcasing the amazing knowledge, abilities, perspectives and vision these youth have to offer," Domínguez said.
Youth participation in Aquetza is funded by CU Boulder’s School of Education, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement (ODECE), Cultural Unity & Engagement Center (CUE), the BUENO Center for Multicultural Education, which is housed in the School of Education, and private donations.
To learn more visit https://sites.google.com/a/colorado.edu/aquetza-program/home.
Read and listen to KGNU coverage of the Aquetza program here.
Haz clic aquí para leer un artículo en español en La Prensa Colorado.