Sat.9.5.20

The Chicanx/Latinx Transfer Experience Webinar

AGENDA

MORNING 10:30-12 Noon

VOCES PODEROSXS: Chicanx/Latinx Transfers

10:00 AM Registration
10:30 Welcome/Bienvenida
10:50 Morning Keynote: Dr. José M. Aguilar-Hernández
11:15 Panel: Chicanx/Latinx Transfer
11:55 Announcements/Morning Closing

BREAK 12 Noon-2:00

Optional Activities

12 PM Chicanx/Latinx Kahoots
12:30 DJ Requests
1:30 UCLA Departments

AFTERNOON: 2-3:30

VOCES PODEROSXS: Chicanx/Latinx Transfers in Graduate School

2:00 PM Afternoon Keynote: Leisy J. Abrego
2:40 Panel: Chicanx/Latinx Transfer in Graduate School
3:20 Closing/Raffle

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

KEYNOTE: José M Aguilar-Hernández

Associate Professor College of Education and Integrative Studies, Cal Poly Pomona

José M. Aguilar-Hernández is an associate professor in the College of Education and Integrative Studies at Cal Poly Pomona. He is the proud son of immigrant farmworkers from Zacatecas, México. Aguilar-Hernández transferred from Moorpark Community College to UCLA where he received his B.A. in History and Chicana/o Studies, M.A. in Latin American Studies, and Ph.D. in Education. As an interdisciplinary scholar, his research publications and teaching interests include social movements, educational history, pedagogy, critical race theory, historical methods, and gender and sexuality. Prior to arriving to Cal Poly Pomona, Aguilar-Hernández taught in ethnic studies and education departments at UCLA, California State University Northridge, and California State University Los Angeles. In 2017, he was awarded the Advisor of the Year Award by Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Education and Integrative Studies.

KEYNOTE: Leisy J. Abrego

Professor and Chair, UCLA Chicana/o and Central American Studies

Leisy Abrego is Professor and Chair in the Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies at UCLA. She teaches and writes about Central American migration, families, gender, and the intimate ways that US immigration policies affect undocumented immigrants and their families. For almost 20 years, she has accompanied undocumented students and activists in the immigrant rights movement and she uses her expertise to serve as a witness for asylum claims of Central American women. She is the author of Sacrificing Families: Navigating Laws, Labor, and Love Across Borders (Stanford University Press, 2014); co-author with Cecilia Menjívar and Leah Schmalzbauer of Immigrant Families (Polity, 2016); and co-editor with Genevieve Negrón-Gonzales of the brand new book, We Are Not Dreamers: Undocumented Scholars Theorize Undocumented Life in the United States (Duke, 2020)

PANELISTS/TESTIMONIOS

Gabriela Abraham

Transferred from Los Angeles Valley College UCLA Class of 2017 Majors: Spanish Community and Culture/ Chicana/o Studies

I am a first generation, non-traditional, parenting Latinx transfer student who graduated Magna Cum Laude honors from UCLA in 2017. Originally born and raised in the small town of Izucar de Matamoros in Puebla, Mexico, I first came to this country in search of better opportunities, but struggled with being undocumented for over 20 years. I got my GED and later after 20+ years enrolled in school at LAVC where my academic journey first began. While at Valley college, I joined my first CCCP summer program along with my daughter who was also attending community college at the time. In 2014 we both transferred into UCLA together and eventually graduated together in 2017. Being a mother of two children, inspired me and gave me the strength to go back to school, so I can provide them with a better life and be an example for them to pursue higher education.

Christian Cruz

Transferred from Los Angeles Trade Technical College UCLAMajor: Chicanx Studies

I am a first-generation, transfer, and Latinx student at UCLA pursuing a major in Chicana/o Studies. I am a proud son of two hard-working immigrant parents, my mom is a street vendor and my dad is a factory worker. Growing up, my parents taught me the value of hard work and education; when I was 7 years old, my parents would take me to their jobs to see how much sacrifice they make on a daily basis to provide for me and my younger siblings. Seeing my parents work hard every day motivated me to pursue an education, and ultimately a better life for myself and for them. Now in my final year at UCLA, I recognize the importance of advocating for underrepresented communities, because if we don’t know one else will. For fun, I love to hike, watch sports, cook, and work out!

Nefri Godoy

Transferred from West Los Angeles College UCLA Major: Sociology

I’m a first generation, undocumented student of Afro-Indigenous roots. I was born and raised in Puerto Cortes, Honduras and have lived in various parts of LA since my family and I first immigrated to the U.S. I am a very determined and motivated individual who will not stop until I make my dreams become a reality. I strive to make a difference in the world especially within the communities that I’m part of. One of my goals is to uplift and give a voice to those whose voices often go unheard/ are silenced. As a community organizer, I work in various causes such as helping fight against human rights violations, ending homelessness, immigration, incarceration, etc. In addition, I focus on building international solidarity, popular education, collective action and fights against capitalism and imperialism. Furthermore, I’m one of the co-chairs for the Central American student led organization, UNICA de UCLA whose mission is to organize, provide and make space to uplift the most marginalized sectors of our communities. We are committed to organizing politically, practicing and promoting popular education, and building international solidarity.

Nicole Contreras

Transferred from Rio Hondo CollegeMajor SociologyUCLA Class of 2019PhD student in Department of Educational Leadership & Analysis University of Wisconsin-Madison

I am currently a rising second year PhD student in the department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I am a very proud product of community college. I majored in sociology at Rio Hondo College and transferred to UCLA in 2017. I became a CCCP mentor, participated in McNair Research Scholars and graduated from UCLA in 2019. As a first-generation, low-income Chicana, I am now able to reflect on my own educational trajectory and work towards closing opportunity gaps for BIPOC students. I hope to one day return to the community college setting as a campus leader and establish educational support centers throughout low-income communities. It took a village to support me along my journey and I hope to continue paying it forward to future generations.

Kimberly Miranda (them/they)

Transferred from East Los Angeles College UCLA Class of 2018Major: Chicana/o/X StudiesPhd student at UCLA Department of Chicana/o/x Studies at UCLA

Kimberly is current graduate student in the department of Chicana/o/x Studies at UCLA. Their a Ford Fellow and Eugene E. Cota Robles recipient with research interests focused on housing justice in the greater East Los Angeles area with an emphasis on gender, policing and eviction proceedings. Kimberly is also involved in popular education efforts and facilitates an all womxns group through housing organization, Los Angeles Center for Community Law & Action (LACCLA). Their passions lie between teaching, community involvement/organizing, and helping fellow first generation students of color.

Jesus Iñiguez

Transferred from Los Angeles Mission College UCLA Class of 2017Major ChemistryPhd Student at UCLA in the Department of Chemistry

Jesus Iñiguez is a second-year inorganic chemistry graduate student studying electrocatalytic alkane activation. A UCLA alumnus, Iñiguez transferred to UCLA in 2014 from Los Angeles Mission College, and received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from UCLA in 2017. The son of immigrant farm workers from Mexico, Iñiguez is the first member of his family to graduate from college. In the low-income neighborhood he lived in as a child, role models were difficult to find, particularly in STEM fields, and Iñiguez experienced first-hand the challenges students face when they grow up in under-represented communities. As a result, he was inspired to serve as a role model to Latinos from similar backgrounds wo are interested in pursuing careers in STEM fields. In addition to his various mentorship roles at UCLA and in the Southern California area, Iñiguez is a member of Advancing Chicano/Hispanics Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) UCLA chapter, California Alliance Minority Program (CAMP), and Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers (SHPE).

Javier Lopez Quintana

Transferred from East Los Angeles CollegeUC Berkeley Major: Political Science / Certificate in Film and Media Industries & ProfessionsGraduate Student pursuing MFA in Film Production

Javier Lopez Quintana was born in Michoacán, Mexico and immigrated to the United States with his parents at the age of 4; he was raised in Southeast Los Angeles. While working at a shampoo factory for close to a year, Javier saw the detrimental conditions of laborers, especially undocumented workers. He began attending East Los Angeles College full time and dedicated his education towards organizing with community members through the American Federation of Teachers. Javier’s work as an organizer taught him the power behind giving a platform to underserved and underrepresented communities.
Javier graduated from UC Berkeley in the Fall of 2019 with a degree in Political Science and a certificate in Film and Media Industries and Professions. Currently, Javier is a graduate student pursuing his M.F.A in Film Production with an emphasis in Directing and is leading the UndoQ Lens Filmmakers Fellowship to support undocumented filmmakers.

MUSIC THAT MATTERS

The sounds that fill the streets, homes and hearts of the people of the Americas are filled with rhythm, tragedy, joy and triumph. Most of all, you cannot help yourself to move to it or to be move by it. We highlight these songs that transcend their contagious melodies to explore the many experiences of the peoples in Latin America who were born out of the violent histories of colonization and the hopeful journeys in migrations and continue. Que viva Latinoamerica, Aztlan y los cuerpos separados de sus madres patrias!

"La Rebelion" Joe Arroyo

Joe Arroyo's La Rebelion describes the Black/African history in Colombia.

"Latinoamerica" Calle 13

Calle 13's Latinoamerica is an ambitious love letter to all the diverse beauty of the disparate experiences in the American continent. taking the point of view of the people, el pueblo. Los Pueblos.