Todos Juntos : collaboration and unity in uncertain times : proceedings of the 16th Annual Conference, June 14-16, 2017, St. Louis, Missouri

Abstract

"The 16th Cambio de Colores Conference was held in 2017 with the theme "Todos Juntos: Collaboration and Unity in Uncertain Times". The 2017 conference bore witness to almost six months of uncertainty under a new administration whose initial policies have maligned immigrants, fostered divisions and exclusion, and heightened a discourse and policy of removal of undocumented immigrants. Likewise, it has targeted several Muslim majority nations to be subject to travel bans. These actions have created a large amount of uncertainty and fear in immigrant communities making the process of integration more challenging. These actions have highlighted the need for collaboration and solidarity across immigrant and non-immigrant communities, across religious backgrounds, and across ethnic and racial groups. The title of the conference developed by the planning committee sought to represent both the context of uncertainty and dread as well as what Cambio de Colores represents: a community of collaboration informed by knowledge and practice, seeking to facilitate integration and wellbeing in changing times. The 2017 conference proved to be a good place to explore collaboration and unity, in contrast to the nation context. Plenary sessions explored public health measures born out of partnerships between researchers and community members (Dr. Jason Purnell); the efforts of St. Louis area community organizations in supporting integration (F. Javier Orozco, Eileen Wolfington, Jaime Torres, and Karlos Ramirez); the role and opportunities that community colleges play in empowering Latino students (Dr. Karen Hunter and Dr. Anthony Cruz); and the way teachers can engage the organic intellectualism of immigrant students and communities (Dr. Mariana Pacheco). Participants also visited several St. Louis community organizations providing leadership in service to Latino, immigrant and refugee communities. The community of practice that is Cambio de Colores seeks to contribute our shared experiences, knowledge and best practices to enable a context that facilitates the integration of Latina/os, and continue to facilitate networks of collaboration. Cambio de Colores in 2017 included participants from 93 institutions in 18 states. Presenters came from 16 states, gave 90 presentations (17 of which were workshops), in 35 breakout sessions and four plenary sessions. This 16th Conference Proceedings includes three papers: one on youth development, one on Extension efforts on a Latino families needs assessment, and one on farmworker wage justice. The abstracts of the 90 presentations and workshops cover the six conference theme tracks: Change & Integration, Economic Development, Civil Rights & Political Participation, Education, Health, and Youth Development. ..."--Introduction.