Liberation, Healing, and Wellness Through the Lens of Ethnic Studies

• In Event: Healing Mind, Body, and Soul: Intersectional Research on Mental Health and Wellness

Abstract

Utilizing humanizing practices and pedagogies such as Ethnic Studies can help create these reaffirming educational spaces. Research among school districts across the nation have revealed that Ethnic Studies in K-12 educational settings can tremendously improve academic achievement for students, especially among low-income, underserved students of color. However, what is lacking from the literature is how Ethnic Studies holds great promise for improving the psychological and spiritual well-being for students and educators, specifically by embracing practices promoting healing and wellness. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the ways in which Ethnic Studies teachers utilize their classroom spaces to create an environment that fosters wellness and healing and how teacher/social work educators can employ them in their own pedagogies.

Authors

• Shiv Raj Desai, University of New Mexico

• Dre Abeita, University of New Mexico

• Myrella R Gonzalez, The University of New Mexico