⭐️ Hosted by the Aoki Center and DEI (Avanza/HSI)

The Aoki Center and UC Davis Hispanic Serving Institution Speaker Series Presents Professor Yianella Blanco, UC Davis School of Education

Dr. Yianella Blanco is an assistant professor in the School of Education. Her research focuses on the teaching and learning of Latinx histories and experiences in K-12 schools, especially those of Central America(ns). She graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2022 with a PhD in Social Studies education. Prior to that, she worked as a high school social studies and special education teacher in New York City. Her work with young people inspires her research and sustains her spirit as she continues to search for liberatory and humanizing educational practices.

This talk is drawn from a larger qualitative research study with Central American-American educators, during which they shared their own testimonios and collectively read the testimonios written by Central American migrant youth to imagine how we might use testimonios in our teaching practice. Our research is grounded in LatCrit theory, and builds upon testimonio research that has uplifted the histories and experiences of Latinx youth. We add to this research by putting it in conversation with healing-centered pedagogy (Ginwright, 2015; 2018). Ultimately, we argue that testimonios can aid in dismantling oppressive narratives and build new ones focused on Latinx youths’ joy, strengths, and successes. In doing so, they provide opportunities for history classrooms to act as spaces of radical care and healing.

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