Academia Cuauhtli: (re)locating the spiritual, if crooked, path to social justice

Abstract

This essay doubles as a critique of the brutal violence visited upon the immigrant community in Austin, Texas, in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidency, and a deeply personal account related to the establishment of Academia Cuauhtli, a language and culture revitalization project in Austin, Texas. It narrates our origins as a community-anchored, partnership-based effort that has culminated in a Saturday academy for east Austin fourth graders attending four elementary schools. With implications for community empowerment, culturally relevant social justice pedagogy, and spirituality, it illustrates what is possible when individual biography or circumstance intersects with caring friendships, politically astute community members, social justice initiatives, and a candid expression of need by community-anchored teachers. This timely and crooked path to social justice has situated those whose lives we touch with the kind of sustenance we all need to face the most significant political and policy challenge of our lives.

Keywords:

• Culturally relevant pedagogy
• civil rights
• curriculum
• community empowerment
• indigenous education
• dual language education
• social justice
• Austin
• Texas