Toward a Pedagogy of Cariño: Mentoring Practices for Marginalized Youth

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 23
  In Roundtable Session: Mentoring Collaborative Strategies

Abstract

This presentation highlights part of my research which examined the development of pedagogical relationships between tutor-mentors and students, parents, and staff in a community program dedicated to decreasing the push-out rates among students of Spanish- and/or Portuguese-speaking descent in the Toronto public school system. Using a Transnational Latina Feminist framework, I examined program documents, observation and interview data. Authentic caring relationships, characterized by cariño and consejos were a critical part of their experience. They provided a positive learning environment for students, and a place for tutor-mentors to heal from their own negative schooling pasts. Furthering our understandings of the importance of relationships in pedagogy, and how they can also be a site of healing for communities that have been historically marginalized.

Author

• Alexandra Arraiz Matute, Carleton University