Healing Through the Arts: Latinx Testimonios Across Political Eras From Elementary to Adulthood

• In Event: Reimagining Inquiry Through Poetics, Comics, and Healing Arts

Abstract

This presentation explores the longitudinal impact of sociopolitical contexts on Latinx children of immigrants, reflecting on a 15-year relationship between an educator and her former students. Using arts-based multimodal testimonios, such as poetry and collage, the study examines how shifting political climates, from Obama's presidency to the present, shape and impact our lives. Grounded in frameworks like Anzaldúa’s Geographies of Selves, Sepúlveda’s pedagogy of acompañamiento, and Literacy Futurisms, the research highlights collective healing and resilience. The findings reveal the interconnectedness of personal and political histories, emphasizing the need for educational systems to support Latinx immigrant families by fostering long-term, empathetic relationships and acknowledging the continuous influence of sociopolitical realities on their experiences.

Authors

• Paty Abril-Gonzalez, University of Texas at Austin

• Celeste Chavez, Colorado State University