The Vision:

There is a lack of opportunities for teachers to improve their practices in meeting the
needs of students of color through culturally responsive, authentic and research based
methodology. The Xicanx Institute for Teaching and Organizing (XITO) is an urban
educational institute that will fill the gap in Xicanx/Latinx schooling for students and
practitioners with the goal of impacting future education policy.

The Mission:

XITO strives to support the Xicanx/Latinx community through teacher participation,

social justice pedagogy, and community organizing. XITOs practices are steeped in
Xicanx Indigenous epistemology, which drives the intentions, structures, and practices
of the institute.

The Rationale:

Arizona is a testing ground for anti-Xicanx/Latinx laws, policies and practices, including
HB 2281 (A.R.S. 15-112 & 15-112), the anti-Ethnic Studies law banning Mexican
American Studies courses in public schools. Given that many such political
experiments have been successfully exported from Arizona to the larger nation, XITO
addresses the implications of this legislation by offering workshops in community
organizing and critical teaching to counter this trend. In addition to teaching workshops,
XITO supports the continued teaching of XIcanx Literature and XIcanx Studies in
Tucson, Arizona. XITO thrives to support Mexican Americans and other Latinx, the
largest and fastest growing minority group in the nation, by coordinating a viable way
of affecting policy on the local, state, regional, or national level.

XITO
Anita Fernndez, Ph.D. - Director
Curtis Acosta, Ph.D.
Sean Arce, M.Ed.
Jos Gonzlez, M.A.
Norma Gonzlez, M.Ed.
 XICANX INSTITUTE FOR TEACHING & ORGANIZING

XITO Facilitators
Anita Fernndez, eliminated classes to well as culturally for Teaching Peoples
Ph.D. XITO & continue on in a non- responsive and socially History from the Zinn
Prescott College formal setting for relevant curriculum. Education Project
college credit from Curtis is an award- (ZEP) in 2012. ZEP
Prescott College. Anita winning educator that honored Arce for his
is also the co-founder has been featured in instrumental role in
of La Tierra Community the documentary nurturing one of the
School, a K-8 Precious Knowledge, most significant and
Expeditionary Learning The Daily Show with successful public
school in Prescott, AZ John Stewart, and his school initiatives on the
and the Director of classes were subject of teaching of history in
XITO. multiple profiles by the United States. His
CNN, The New York work has been
Curtis Acosta, Ph.D. Times, and The Los highlighted on PBS,
Acosta Latino Angeles Times Democracy Now and
Learning Partnership amongst many other National Public Radio.
& XITO media outlets. He As an activist urban
Anita Fernndez is a received his Bachelor educator for nearly 20
scholar activist at of Arts from Willamette years, Arce and his
Prescott College University in Salem, colleagues developed
(Arizona) and teaches Oregon and a Masters Barrio Pedagogy -
in both the of Arts degree in which includes Xicano
undergraduate Language, Reading, Indigenous
Education program and and Culture from the epistemologies and
the graduate program University of Arizona in social justice principles
in Social Justice and Tucson, where he as its foundation -
Community Organizing. received his doctorate where students and
Anitas work in degree in Teaching, teachers co-
education began as a Learning and constructed an
high school English Sociocultural Studies. educational experience
teacher, which that fostered an
influenced her graduate Sean Arce, Doctoral academic identity and
work to focus on Candidate. Azusa the development of a
Curtis Acosta has been Unified School strong cultural identity.
preparing activist
a public high school District & XITO Arce received his
teachers who are
teacher in Tucson for Bachelor of Arts in
critically conscious.
nearly 20 years where Mexican American
Anita is locally and
he developed and Studies from the
nationally involved with
taught Chican@ / University of Arizona
organizations that focus
Latin@ Literature and his Masters in
on Xicanx access to
classes for the Educational Leadership
education, social justice
activism, critical renowned Mexican from Northern Arizona
pedagogy and American Studies University. He is
decolonial, urban (MAS) program in currently working
education. Anita has Tucson - the largest towards his doctorate in
public school ethnic Teaching, Learning and
worked closely with the
studies program in the Sean Arce, co-founder Sociocultural Studies at
now banned Mexican
nation before being and former director of the University of
American Studies
dismantled in January, the nationally renowned Arizona. What drives
Department in Tucson,
2012. MAS classes and now banned Arces work are all
and in that work she
were centered on Mexican American Xicanax children,
created a structure for
student empowerment Studies Department in specifically his own two,
the eliminated classes
and agency through Tucson, AZ, received Maya and Emiliano,
to continue on in a non-
critical pedagogy, as the Myles Horton Award who are plaintiffs in the
formal setting for the
Arce et al. v State of Indigenous Houston, and he is the students self-
Arizona case that is Achievement inside of also a political analyst actualization and self-
currently in the Ninth Oakland Unified. He is on "What's Your Point" discipline.
Circuit Court of proudest to be a which airs on Fox 26 Norma Gonzalez,
Appeals, challenging husband, and father of Houston. M.Ed. XITO
Arizonas anti-Chicano three children: Olin,
Studies law 15-111 & Amaru and Quetzali. Jos Gonzalez, M.A.
15-112 (formerly known XITO
as Arizona HB 2281). Tony Diaz, M.A.
Librotraficantes
Csar A. Cruz, Ed.L.D.
Homies
Empowerment &
Harvard University

Norma Gonzlez has

been a Mexican
Indigenous Studies
Writer, activist, and Critical Educator for
professor Tony Diaz Jose Gonzlez is in his over 20 years. Her
Diaz, El Librotraficante, twenty-fifth year of research interest is
was the first Chicano to teaching and currently centered on culture and
earn an MFA from the works for Tucson re-introducing Xicanx
University of Houston Unified School District youth to Indigenous
Creative Writing as an itinerant teacher Mexican knowledge
From marching 76- Program. Hes author of for Culturally Relevant and wisdom as a
straight miles, to hunger the novel THE AZTEC Pedagogy and means to solidify a
striking for 26 days, Dr. LOVE GOD and is Instruction in Tucson, positive identity. She
Csar Cruz has included in HECHO EN Arizona. As a student holds a M.Ed. in
dedicated his life to TEJAS: The Anthology advocate, Jose was Educational Leadership
justice. Born in Mxico, of Texas Mexican one of thirteen plaintiffs and a B.A. in
he migrated to the U.S. Writers edited by challenging the Elementary Bilingual
with a single mother. Dagoberto Gilb. His constitutionality of HB Education.
Cesar grew up in South essays have appeared 2281 (ARS 15-112), Professionally Norma
Central L.A. and moved in the Houston which has made was a curriculum
to study at UC Berkeley Chronicle, Texas teaching Chicana/o specialist with the
earning a B.A.-History. Observer, CNN.com, Studies illegal in the Mexican American
A 23-year vet in the Los Angeles Times, State of Arizona. As Studies Department for
education, served as and Huffington Post and educator and ten years where she
Dean at Arise High in Latino Voices, among student advocate, Jose developed curriculum
Oakland where he co- other publications. His anchors his instruction (K-12) that was
founded the Homies textbook "The Mexican by implementing a culturally responsive
Empowerment Program. American Studies Xicanx Critical Race and that implemented
Author of Revenge of Toolkit" is up for Pedagogy, critical pedagogy and
The Illegal Alien, and adoption in Texas high simultaneously Indigenous
Bang for Freedom. He schools. In 1998, Diaz interweaving a epistemologies.
was the first Mexican founded Nuestra humanizing pedagogy Normas expertise and
immigrant male to Palabra: Latino Writers which at its core is pedagogical focus
received his Doctorate Having Their Say, which grounded in Indigenous centers on ecology,
in Ed. Leadership was the foundation for epistemologies. He environmental justice
(Ed.L.D.) at Harvard the Librotraficantes. He works to foster and and Indigenous
University. Starting July hosts the groups facilitate his students Traditional Earth
1st he will be the weekly radio show on academic identity Knowledge.
founding Director of the KPFT 90.1 FM through a philosophy,
Office of Raza and which is centered on
Liana Lopez multimedia/photography
Librotraficantes project based on her
travels through post-
revolutionary Nicaragua.
She has exhibited her
work and curated
Houston Artz (2011),
Roots of Rebellion
(2010), Houston
Vanguard (2010) -2010
bi-annual Fotofest
International exhibition,
Shooting Apartheid
(2013).
www.LianaLisa.com
poetry that appears in Air/Houston, he co-
Huizache, Luna Luna, directed and edited
Ostrich, Revista Wish You Were Here:
Sncope, Pilgramage, Stories from the East
Border Senses, the Los Side (2007). He co-
Angeles Review of produces the radio
Books' newest channel, program Nuestra
Voluble and Gulf Coast. Palabra: Latino Writers
Having Their Say for
Bryan Parras Pacifica Network station
Lirbrotraficantes KPFT (90.1 FM) and is a
trained facilitator of
Agusto Boal's Theater of
the Oppressed
techniques.

Lupe Mendez Georgina Cecilia

Liana Lopez, a member Librotraficantes Prez- TX SBOE
of Nuestra Palabra: Member
Latino Writers Having
Their Say since 2002,
aka Librotraficante Lilo,
is a multi-platform
communications
Bryan Parras, a member
professional with
of Nuestra Palabra:
experience developing,
Latino Writers Having
managing, coordinating
Their Say since 2001,
and producing
aka Librotraficante
successful media events
Lupe Mendez is a HighTechAztec, is a
from online projects to
Poet/Educator/Activist, Houston filmmaker and
convention exhibitions.
CantoMundo Fellow, photographer who
Macondo Fellow and specializes in
Liana produces and co-
co-founder of the documentation of
hosts Nuestra Palabra:
Librotraficante environmental and Georgina Prez, a
Latino Writers Having
Movement. He works social justice movement Democrat, is the State
Their Say on 90.1 FM
with Nuestra Palabra: stories. He was awarded Board of Education
and www.KPFT.org
Latino Writers Having a 2008 2010 Gulf Representative
(Pacifica Radio) in
Their Say to promote Coast Fellowship for for District
Houston, Texas.
poetry events, advocate Community 1, representing
for literacy/literature and Transformation. Parras students, parents, and
As an independent
organize creative writing served as a Managing educators in 40
writer, reporter and
workshops that are Advisor for the Gulf counties in west Texas
photographer, her work
open to the public. He is Coast Fund and Lead and along the
has been published in
the founder of Tintero Field Coordinator for a Texas/Mexico border.
the Houston Press,
Projects which works NIEHS research She was elected to a
Phoenix New Times
with writers of color in project(GC-HARMS) four-year term on the
(Village Voice Media),
the Texas Gulf Coast looking into the impacts board on Nov. 8, 2016.
29-95.com (Houston
Region, with Houston as of the BP drilling Prez is an El Paso
Chronicle), San Antonio
its hub. His publishing disaster. He is co- native and proud
Current, Democracy
credits include prose founder of t.e.j.a.s. graduate of Eastwood
Now!, YES! Magazine,
work in Houston Free (Texas Environmental High School in the
Truthout, Free Speech
Press, the Kenyon Justice Advocacy Ysleta Independent
Radio News, Ms.
Review and Norton's Services) and a regional School District, where
Magazine among other
Sudden Fiction Latino: correspondent and she proudly served as
publications. She is a
Short Short Stories from advisor with Bridge the an 8th grade English
recipient of a Houston
the United States and Gulf Project. In Language Arts and
Arts Alliance Emerging
Latin America, and collaboration with Reading teacher,
Artist Grant for a
Mothers for Clean
Department Chair, Pre- Jesus Chucho Ruiz Elias Serna Ph.D., Johnavalos, M.A.
Service and New- - Calpolli Teoxicalli UC Riverside UC Riverside,
Service Teacher Department of Music
mentor and
Professional
Development educator
in the same district for
more than a decade.

She holds degrees in

Business
Administration/Accounti
ng and
With a Masters Degree
Human Resource
Elias is an English in Ethnic Dance
Development and holds
doctoral student at UC Education from
educator certifications
Over the past decade, Riverside and currently Stanford University
in grade 4-8 Generalist
Chucho has teaches Chicano 1978, and a B.A. in
and English Language
transformed the lives of Studies at Cal State Sociology from UC
Arts and Reading,
countless Raza youth L.A. and Dominguez Santa Cruz,
grades 8-12, from the
through a La Cultura Hills, and is directing "Johnavalos" (John
University of Texas at
Cura approach as the the PYFC Summer Arts Rios aka juan) has
El Paso; amd is the
Youth, Services Program in Santa been teaching
author of Unity
Director with Chicanos Monica. In 2013 he won Mexican/Xicanx dance
Framework - Critical
Por La Causa. the National Collegiate at 4 UC campuses for
Pedagogy Curriculum -
Additionally, through his Book Collecting the past 25 years.
continuing her work in
affirmation and Contest hosted by the Currently a
curriculum development
maintenance of Nahua Library of Congress for lecturer/adjunct with the
and educator training.
cultural practices and his collection titled Department of Music at
Prez is known as
way of life, commitment Chicano Movement UC Riverside he serves
passionate advocate for
to social justice, and Banned Books. He is as premier director of
literacy. She has
obligation to the Tucson co-organizing the 3rd the UCR Studio for
worked with various
community, Chucho Raza Studies Now Mexican Music and
organizations and
has served as a central Conference (August Dance (SMMD) where
businesses to
facilitator of la tradicon 23 in Santa Monica) he collaborates with
coordinate a book
Nahua within the which has drafted El famed pioneer of
distribution program
Calpolli Teoxicalli, a Plan de Los Angeles mariachi women Laura
and founded Tu Libro,
constellation of Nahua envisioning Ethnic Sobrino and they both
which has provided
familias in Tlamanalco, Studies in high schools. work with students to
more than 150,000
Aztlan. Chucho has With Johnavalos he co- produce a weeknight
books to students who
always answered the founded the Xicanx annual concert for the
live in rural and
call to meet the needs Pop-Up Book UCR campus
impoverished
in of the Chicano Movement -unfolding in community
communities in El Paso
community as spiritual Riverside, Texas, During the 70's
County and who dont
advisor, authentic Minnesota, Salt Lake, and 80'sJohnavalos
have regular access to
community leader, and South LA and all over performed and toured
public libraries. Prez
barrio intellectual - Aztlan - that promotes with such companies as
and her team have
particularly as the Raza Studies arts and Los Lupeos de San
spearheaded the
Chicana/o community science through pop up Jos, Ballet Mexicana
creation of a library in
has been under attack books, in order to de Benjamin
Socorro, which is the
through racist laws (HB proclaim that you can Hernandez, The
second-largest
2281 & SB 1070) and ban Chican@ books, National Chicano
municipality in El Paso
dehumanizing but theyll still POP UP! Dance Theater of
County, providing over
practices. Enrique Montoya ,
55,000 area residents
Miguel Delgado's
with free access to
Teatro Mechicano de
reading materials.
Danza and during his
college years co-
founded "Los Mejjcas
de UCSC. His most With a lifetime His work as an artist is is these recently found
noted credits include a of Folklorico dedicated to creating "Purpecha" ancestors
featured dancer role in performance and new performances that who continue to take
the 1979 motion picture serving 12 years as an tell the story of his life care of the original
"Zoot Suit" by Luis elected board member as a gay American, his cornfield once owned
Valdez and can be of the National mother's life as a by his maternal
seen as a Mayan Association of farmworker with 11 grandfather who had
Dancer at EPCOT Folklrico Groups children, and the fled to Los Angeles
Mexican Pavilion in (ANGF) Johnavalos enduring spirit of his during the Mexican Rev
Disney World Florida continues to search for Indigenous ancestors
working under famed ways to enhance the the Avalos (hence his
Aztec dancer Florencio understanding the new artist
Yescas. people we call Mexican. name"Johnavalos"). It
 Friday, June 30, 2017
Time Institute Workshop Sessions
8:00 am 8:30 am Check in and light breakfast City HS

8:30 am 8:45 am Opening Ceremonia: Calpolli Teoxicalli City HS

8:45 am 9:15 am Introductions & Agreements City HS

9:15 am 10:45am The Implications, Imperatives and Possibilities of the National City HS
Ethnic Studies Movement Sean Arce
This opening workshop will frame the importance of Ethnic Studies in K-16
education by offering definitions, evidence and examples of the efficacy of the
former Mexican American Studies Program as well as Ethnic Studies programs
across the country. In this session, Sean Arce will also update participants on
the current legal battle taking place in Tucson over Mexican American Studies.
10:45am City HS
11:00am Break
11:00 am - The Nahui Ollin: Pedagogy, Organizing and Principles to Live By - Sean City HS
12:15pm Arce
In this session, former MAS Director, Sean Arce, will share with participants the
Nahui Ollin as an effective pedagogy for Xicanx/Raza youth. Specifically, the
examination of the principles and Xicanx Indigenous epistemologies within the
Nahui Ollin, which include Tezcatlipoca (critical self-reflection), Quetzalcoatl
(precious and beautiful knowledge), Huitzilopochtli (the will to act), and Xipe
Totec (transformation) will be critically analyzed, discussed, and situated within
the context of pedagogy as well as in every day life practices.

12:15 pm- 1:15 pm Lunch City HS

Counter-Storytelling as a Method of Decolonizing Pedagogy Anita
1:15 pm -2:30 pm Fernndez City HS
Modeling the decolonizing and rehumanizing pedagogy shared in the first two
sessions, this workshop will focus on the use of counter-storytelling in the K-12
classroom. Both theoretical frameworks and practical applications of counter-
storytelling will be shared to highlight how to integrate this methodology into units
of study.

2:30 pm 2:45 pm Break City HS

2:45 pm - 4:15 pm Culturally & Historically Responsive & Reflective Literature Georgina City HS
Perez
This interactive session will provide an opportunity for participants to reflect on
their journey as educators and understand/construct CHRR within their learning
environments. Georgina Perez will share resources and frameworks for
developing liberatory lessons and units.

4:15 pm 4:30 pm Evaluations City HS

 Saturday, July 1, 2017

Time Institute Workshop Sessions Room

8:00 am 8:30 am Check in and light breakfast City HS

8:30 am 8:45 am Opening Ceremonia: Calpolli Teoxicalli City HS

8:45 am 9:00 am Revisiting agreements City HS

City HS
9:00am 10:30 am Operationalizing the Nahui Ollin in the K-12 Classroom Norma Gonzalez
This session will provide participants an opportunity to experience and
implement strategies developed and utilized by former MAS teacher, Norma
Gonzalez, through the Nahui Ollin.

10:30am 12:00pm Tezcatlipoca In the Secondary Classroom Jos Gonzalez City HS

This session by former MAS teacher Jos Gonzalez, will provide methods and
examples of how the Nahui Ollin is operationalized in the secondary classroom.

12:00 pm -1:00 pm Lunch City HS

1:00 pm -2:15 pm MAS Suppression vs MAS Acceleration: Art Tactics to Speed Up Evolution City HS
Reports from the Texas Front and the Librotraficante Caravan
Presented by Tony Diaz, El Librotraficante, Bryan Parras-HighTechAztec, and Lupe
Mendez-Librotraficante Lips Mendez, Liana Lopez-Librotraficante Lilo Texas has
been activated, inspired by the struggle for Ethnic Studies in AZ. The Librotraficantes
have used art, literature, mainstream media, and social media to protest and defy
policies created to suppress votes and adapted to suppress Ethnic Studies. These
new tactics combined with a shift in demographics have put the Lone Star state into
play as a burgeoning front for the advancement of Ethnic Studies.

2:15 2:30 pm Break City HS

2:30 pm 4:00 pm Xicanx Pop-Up Books: Pedagogies and Allegories Against Book Burning and City HS
the Ban on Xicanx Literature: Elias Serna & Johnavalos Rios

Adapting MAS' Xicanx Paradigm, and in the context of attacks on Xicanx

Indigenous epistemologies - from colonial book burning to the banning of Chican@
Studies books in Arizona - we will walk participants through Xicanx Pop-Up Book
lesson plans, including the role of allegory and pop-up techniques. We use the
concepts of self-reflection, precious knowledge, the will to act, and transformation to
explain classroom lessons and experiences, as we proclaim that "you can ban
Chican@ books, but they'll still POP UP!"

4:00 pm 4:15 pm Evaluations City HS

6:00pm 8:30 pm Dinner Mariscos

Chihuahua
 Sunday, July 2, 2017
Time Institute Workshop Sessions Room

8:00 am 8:30 am Check in and light breakfast City HS

8:30 am 8:45 am Opening Ceremonial: Calpolli Teoxicalli City HS

8:45am 10:15 am Unlocking the Intergenerational Wisdom Within Cesar A. Cruz City HS

Dr. Csar A. Cruz, veteran educator and co-founder of HomiesEmpowerment.co,

will facilitate a 90-minute workshop on intergenerational wisdom. Invoking the
advice of movement ancestors such as Lolita Lebron, Lucy Gonzalez Parsons and
others, participants will write letters channeling intergenerational wisdom as a way
to take on cultural, historical and intergenerational trauma. Participants will have
opportunities to share their letters both 1-on-1 and in a collective spirit read.

10:15am10:30am Break City HS

City HS
10:30am-11:30 am In Lakech: Tu Eres Mi Otro Yo Panel

In this panel session, Norma Gonzalez, Georgina Perez and Curtis Acosta will all
share their interpretations of the Mayan concept of In Lakech. Panelists will discuss
how this concept was used in their own classrooms as well as how they continue to
share these applications with teachers through their professional development
consulting.

11:30am-12:30 pm XITO Synthesis of Learning

This interactive session will provide participants with an opportunity to reflect and
synthesize their learning over the last three days. This session will lead into the
individual and group work session for developing teaching and community goals.

12:30 pm 2:00 Lunch & Group Work/Community Goals City HS

pm

2:00 pm 3:00 pm Closing Ceremonia & Evaluations City HS

 Special Thanks to:

City High School

Calpolli Teoxicalli Tlamenalco, Aztlan