Nuestrxs Cuentos: Storytelling to Rebuild, Empower, and Sustain Urban Latinx Youth

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 34
  In Roundtable Session: Latin@ Generational Experiences of Educational Struggles and Success

Abstract

This presentation proposes a model for university-community engagement projects with Latinx communities. The model emerged from a 4 year-old community project engaging three partners: undergraduate students, College Assistance Migrant Program students, and 4th-6th grade Latinx elementary students. The project uses storytelling to focus on two things: 1) build community across age, class, ethnic, and linguistic barriers and 2) publish a book written by urban Midwestern Latinx youth describing their experiences. Using the notion of “border-crossing” to engagement projects describe community engagement projects in both local settings and amongst university student bodies.

Author

• Estrella Torrez, Michigan State University