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This summer, around 30 high school students from across the state听immersed themselves in , a youth leadership, education, and community empowerment summer program at CU Boulder. But their work is far from complete, as the students return to their high schools and home communities 鈥� Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver, Lafayette, Longmont, Pueblo and more 鈥� to spur postive change.
According to Jas贸n Romero, co-director of the Aquetza and a recent School of Education graduate, this year鈥檚 cohort was especially successful and their desire to affect positive change and share their experiences was at an 鈥渁ll-time high.鈥�
鈥淪tudents from this year are exhibiting an intense desire to continue the experience of Aquetza in their schools and communities.鈥� he said.听"They are already putting together plans to create new student organizations, reform existing ones, and, most meaningfully to me, advocate for the creation of Ethnic Studies courses in their high schools.听I am excited to see the routes they take with all of their different projects.鈥�
Aquetza was co-founded by Romero (MA 鈥�16) and fellow alum Mike Dom铆nguez (PhD 鈥�15), who听intended to revive a summer bridge program that CU鈥檚 United Mexican-American Students Association led in the 1970s to bring Latin@ and Chican@ youth to campus. The program's听modern form centers on听a听free, week-long residential program that provides high school students with interactive academic and community-building experiences
Now in its fourth year, Aquetza aims to 鈥渆mpower youth with strong ties to Latin@ and Chican@ communities to develop powerful connections between academics and community development, begin to include a trajectory of higher education in their life plans, and see themselves as scholars and civic leaders.鈥�
Aquetza, which roughly translates as 鈥渓ift your chin up鈥� in the indigenous language, Nahuatl,听focuses on examining the history, literature, and relevant social and political issues surrounding the students鈥� cultural communities. Through rigorous academic work and individual and group reflection on personal experiences, the students develop projects that they take home and implement long after the enriching and emotional week is over.听
The program is student led, with Romero and undergraduate Magnolia Landa-Posas serving as 2016 co-directors and support from several CU students as instructors. Enrique L贸pez, assistant professor of science education, is the program鈥檚 faculty advisor. His research follows the student after their Aquetza experience, when they return home to implement their projects. L贸pez witnessed the program in action for the first time last year. He said he has has never seen a program quite like it.
鈥淚t was amazing what I was seeing,鈥� L贸pez said. 鈥淚 was so impressed with the students. The students run Aquetza, but I help evaluate the program and it informs my research.鈥�
Aquetza is supported by CU Boulder鈥檚 School of Education, the听, the听, the , which is housed in the School of Education, and private donations.
Photo by听Manni听Melgoza-Alfaro
Related Faculty: Enrique L贸pez