Recording-2025-03-13T04:56:50.190Z

Introduction

• Acknowledgment of ancestors, particularly native peoples of the Phoenix area.

• Invocation of their wisdom for guidance on contemporary global issues.

Personal Context

• The speaker identifies as a "border woman" from Laredo, Texas, representing intersecting identities:

  • Mexican and American heritage

  • 37% Native American ancestry (from ancestry.com).

• Discussion of personal experiences:

  • Poverty, lack of healthcare, and injuries affecting education.

  • Awareness of both oppression and privilege in life experiences.

  • Commitment to transforming academia to serve marginalized students.

Contemporary Issues

• Addressing hard societal issues including:

  • Gun violence (e.g., Thousand Oaks, California shootings).

  • Immigration policies, child separation from families.

  • Sexism, discrimination, and the Me Too movement.

  • Violence against the LGBTQ+ community.

  • Ongoing wars and oppression worldwide.

• Need to cultivate skills and capacities in education to address these issues.

Gloria Anzaldúa and the Borderlands

• Reference to Gloria Anzaldúa's concept of the "borderlands" and consciousness.

• Proposal for creating an educational vision based on:

  • Wholeness, inequity, justice, and social change.

• Key questions to explore in education:

  1. How to connect contemplative education with justice and equity?

  2. How to enable engagement with social justice issues?

  3. How to involve culturally diverse learners in low-income schools?

Contemplative Practices in Education

• Critiques of current perceptions of low-income communities and their wisdom.

• Recognition of existing contemplative traditions that may be overlooked:

  • Community prayers, rituals, and dialogues in low-income backgrounds.

• Importance of leveraging strengths in vulnerable communities:

  • Resilience, curiosity, a desire to give back, creativity, and spiritual values.

Developing an Educational Framework

• Framework outlined with four aspects:

  1. Theoretical Framework: grounding in justice and equity.

  2. Learning Objectives: holistic approach integrating academic and inner skill development.

  3. Pedagogical Tools: selection of culturally responsive contemplative practices.

  4. Desired Outcomes: holistic intellectual, social, and emotional growth with a focus on justice.

Intersectionality and Theoretical Frameworks

• Importance of intersectionality in education as defined by Kimberlé Crenshaw.

• Historical context from feminist perspectives in education:

  • "This Bridge Called My Back" highlights race, class, and sexuality.

• Students should learn to embrace their complexity while navigating personal and societal identity issues.

Practical Examples in Contemplative Pedagogy

• Dr. Norma Cantu: uses autobiographical writing linked to students' experiences.

  • Reflective exercises help students connect emotionally with their narratives.

  • Students relate personal stories to familial experiences, fostering deeper understanding.

• Nova Vernibault: a poem about growing up with adversity and a parent's addiction.

  • Authentic performances allow expression of complex emotions and experiences.

• Dr. Alberto Pulido: students create identity boxes reflecting their cultural heritage, fostering self-identity and significance.

• Dr. Vijay Kanagawa: promotes contemplative reflection through personal artifacts, enhancing connections to heritage and self-identity.

Holistic Learning Outcomes

• Beyond academic outcomes, fostering human qualities and competencies, such as:

  • Self-awareness and emotional intelligence.

  • Empathy and diversity appreciation.

  • Engagement in social change activism.

• Student feedback indicates a desire for meaningful, transformational learning experiences.

Integration of Contemplative Education Across Disciplines

• Opportunities for contemplative education in history, politics, and STEM:

  • Engaging with immediate realities (e.g., environmental impacts of the Rio Grande).

  • Utilizing diverse learning avenues to create connections to students' lived experiences.

Conclusion: Senti Pan Sante Pedagogy

• Defines as a holistic teaching approach integrating rigorous academic standards with contemplative practices.

• Emphasizes creating equitable, inclusive environments across all student demographics.

• Encouragement for educators to engage in their own contemplative practices, being models for their students.