Woke-r Jokers in it for the Long Haul: Mapping mentoring networks (CYF model for Jokers PlayfL) through Professional Development

• In Event: Mapping the Long Haul: Cartographies of Mentoring Journeys

Abstract

Objectives:
This presentation outlines a conceptual pathway for developing leadership that perseveres in the struggle against the oppression faced by educators and students. It proposes a transformative approach by integrating liberatory pedagogies inspired by Theater of the Oppressed (TO) and advanced network mapping strategies, or cartographies. The project aims to theorize mentoring as liberatory praxis using liberatory frameworks (Horton, 1990; Freire, 1970; Boal, 1979; Dobrow & Higgins, 2015; Esnard, 2021; Grant & Simmons, 2022; Montgomery et al., 2021), moving beyond transactional exchanges to foster engagement and transformation for both individuals and institutions.

Perspective(s) or Theoretical Framework:
This work is deeply rooted in the philosophies of Horton (1990), Freire (1970), and Boal (1979), and is further enriched by contemporary mentoring theory (Dobrow & Higgins, 2015; Esnard, 2021; Grant & Simmons, 2022; Montgomery et al., 2021) and over a decade of collaborative practice and scholarship. Traditional mentoring frameworks often reinforce hierarchical and one-directional relationships. In contrast, the approach outlined here draws from liberatory traditions that recognize mentoring as dialogic, relational, and inherently political. Our work expands these ideas by emphasizing the importance of mentoring that is adaptive to the realities of geographically dispersed academic communities.

Methods, Techniques, or Modes of Inquiry:
Utilizing narrative inquiry and reflective case studies, this work documents the development and growth of the “woke-r joker” mentoring network across institutional and professional contexts. These methods capture the processes by which mentoring relationships are formed, maintained, and leveraged for leadership growth, scholarly productivity, and sustained equity work. Analyses of professional development initiatives will uncover how such activities nurture network resilience and adaptability. An innovative aspect of this project is the use of network mapping tools to visualize the mentoring ecosystem and its evolution.

Data Sources, Evidence, Objects, or Materials:
The mentoring network—referred to as the “woke-r joker” model—spans Arizona, Florida, Michigan, and Texas, illustrating both the challenges and opportunities inherent in cross-institutional, multi-regional collaboration. The model originated in shared experiences with Theater of the Oppressed strategies and was refined through workshops, research, and intentional community-building. The woke-r joker is envisioned as not just a facilitator, but also a map-maker, story-sharer, and system challenger. Building on the scholarship of Agosto (2021) and Varga et al. (2021), this approach frames mentoring as cartographic work—mapping connections, resistance, and liberatory practices through research and professional development.

Results and Substantiated Conclusions:
The network seeks to ensure that mentoring relationships are sustainable and transformative, advancing equity in education by training and supporting the next generation of liberatory scholar-practitioners. The model documented here offers practical, theory-driven strategies for developing resilient, equity-oriented mentoring networks in higher education. By centering mentoring as liberatory praxis and employing network mapping, this project provides a timely model for academic units to move beyond hierarchical, isolated mentoring structures toward more equitable, sustainable, and networked approaches. Ultimately, mentoring is reimagined as a dynamic, evolving practice—one that grows across boundaries, adapts to individual and institutional needs, and cultivates both personal and collective transformation within the academy.

Authors

• Vonzell Agosto, University of South Florida

• Deirdre Cobb-Roberts, University of South Florida

• Talia Esnard, University of the West Indies - St. Augustine