Empowering Immigrant Identity Through Creative Resistance: Art-Based Critical Pedagogy in the Immigrant Experience

• In Event: Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: Achieving Social Justice for Immigrant Students Through Empowering Education

Abstract

This text highlights the experience of an undocumented student via an art based critical pedagogy. His socio-political experience through the arts as an undocumented student reflects the value of developing socio-political awareness in students and using their own experiences in our curriculums. Through this manuscript we also highlight the importance of developing caring relationships with students and why sharing similar demographic backgrounds can be key to developing their identities. We introduce the concept of creative resistance as a response to “the Immigrant Paradox”. We share how arts pedagogy can improve the academic outcomes of students showing signs of academic regression.

Authors

• Luis Genaro Garcia, Claremont Graduate University

• Cleveland Hayes, University of La Verne