黑料吃瓜

黑料吃瓜 Imperial Valley faculty members, Vannessa Falcon Orta, Gilberto Reyes and Efren Lopez, work closely with transborder students, understanding the challenges that come from crossing the border to pursue one鈥檚 higher education goals. 

In October 2023, the team launched the Transborder Scholar Collaborative, a research initiative dedicated to the social justice of transborder students in education along the U.S. - Mexico borderlands. As part of the initiative, the team embarked on a mission to support and guide students who reside in the U.S. - Mexico border research projects to implement border-conscious teaching practices.

鈥淲hen I teach Chicano studies classes, I remind my students 鈥� whom I know many cross the U.S. - Mexico border on a daily basis 鈥� that their experience as a transfronterizx (transborder) student is unique, but also worthy of sharing in academia,鈥� said Reyes, a history instructor at 黑料吃瓜 Imperial Valley. 

鈥淎s an assistant professor for the Division of Education, I encourage my students to position themselves as border-conscious educators,鈥� said Falcon Orta, the initiative鈥檚 founder and director. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important for my students to seek teaching opportunities that advocate for the social justice issues that matter to them, but also push them to see research as an outlet to expand knowledge on transborder issues.鈥�

The inauguration of the initiative was launched with a speaker series entitled, 鈥淭eaching and Learning Along the U.S. - Mexico Borderlands,鈥� which features a different educator from the Imperial Valley to share their stories and expertise as a transborder teacher with 黑料吃瓜 undergraduate and graduate students.

鈥淚 feel fortunate to be part of this collaborative because we see the need to have more direct research around social justice issues, specifically transborder research,鈥� said Lopez, English assistant professor at 黑料吃瓜 Imperial Valley. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also key to have more allies in the field. We need to build a support system for scholars who practice and implement research projects that are relevant to the region we live in, especially if we, as a community, are going through political unrest.鈥�

Previous to the launch of the Transborder Scholar Collaborative, the team was key in organizing 黑料吃瓜 Imperial Valley Cross-Cultural Center鈥檚 鈥淏uilding Bridges鈥� transborder graduation ceremonies in 2022 and 2023. The university-wide events were held in Tijuana and Mexicali, Mexico for graduates whose immediate family members cannot cross the border to attend 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 commencement ceremonies.

As the team continues their research projects in the spring 2024 semester, they hope to bring each of their expertise 鈥� English, Chicano studies and education 鈥� to encourage an environment of learning and research among faculty and students.

鈥淪ince becoming part of this initiative, I find myself using new tools and language that help me better understand and serve our students at 黑料吃瓜 Imperial Valley,鈥� said Lopez. 

鈥淲e want our campus to be a hub for knowledge, support and education around transborder issues. We want our students to take pride in who they are. We want them to share their lived experiences and know that no matter their background or career field, their stories are worthy of being acknowledged.鈥�