The Chicano Studies Research Center and The Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles
Present the Sixth Annual Latina/o Education Summit
The UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center (CSRC) and the UCLA Civil Rights Project/Projecto Derechos Civiles (CRP) convened the Sixth Annual UCLA Latina/o Education Summit, bringing together scholars, educators, community representatives, policy makers, and students to discuss critical education issues at each segment of the education pipeline. Participants explored viable policy recommendations and initiatives that can improve educational opportunity for Latina/o students. This conference focused on a significantly different approach to the education of Latina/o students, by viewing their language and culture as assets that schools can use to build success. Joining UCLA researchers at the 2011 summit were also scholars from the University of Arizona, Stanford University, the University of Southern California, and San Jose State University.
Agenda
Welcome
by Chon Noriega, CSRC Director, and Patricia Gándara, Co-Director, Civil Rights Project/Projecto Derechos Civiles and Professor, Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, UCLA
Address: “Challenges and Opportunities: A Personal Journey”
by Rachel Moran, professor and dean, UCLA Law School
Morning Panel: The Challenges We Face in Adopting an Assets View of Language and Culture
Moderator: Patricia Gándara, UCLA
Panelists: Luis Moll, Professor, University of Arizona; Robert Rueda, Professor, University of Southern California; and Danny Martinez, Graduate Student, UCLA
Lunch
Keynote Address: “Building on the Legacy of Lau: A Retrospective and Prospective Look at the Role of the Native Language in Educating English Language Learners”
by Kenji Hakuta, The Lee L. Jacks Professor of Education, Stanford University
Afternoon Panel: Constructing Language and Culture as Assets
Moderator: Concepción Valadez, Associate Professor, UCLA
Panelists: Marjorie Orellana, Professor, UCLA; Ursula Aldana, Mary Martinez-Wenzl, and Megan Hopkins, Graduate Students, UCLA
Panel: Building Programs that Foster Language and Cultural Assets
Moderator: Octavio Pescador, Coordinator, Center for Mexican Studies, UCLA
Panelists: Karen Quartz, Director of Research, Center X, UCLA; Kathryn Lindholm-Leary, Professor, San Jose State University; and Marcos Aguilar, Executive Director, Semillas Community Schools
Reception
The Summit Program is attached as well as the Latino Policy and Issues Brief, No. 25. This May 2011 issue was created as a companion to the Summit; it is an assets view of educating Latino youth that values and builds on the rich language and culture that these students bring to the classroom. The policy brief shows how incorporating Latino students’ home language and aspects of their culture into instruction can improve academic achievement.
