Refusing to “Just Survive”: The Experiences of Latina Activists

Trauma and burnout, the consequences of Institutional Inability

Presenter: X’andrí Diana Garcia Bautista

Presenter Status: Undergraduate student

Academic Year: 22-23

Semester: Spring

Faculty Mentor: Patricia Kim-Rajal

Department: Chicano and Latino Studies

Funding Source/Sponsor: Other

Abstract:
This paper centers the importance of Latina Activism on college campuses, it demonstrates the importance of Latina scholar-activistas role establishing institutional support for students left at the margins and in between the gaps of higher education. By conducting Transgenerational Platicas, through Oral Histories and open-ended semi structured interviews, I will document the experiences of Latina Activistas at a predominantly white Northern California state institution, in translation with their ongoing work as Latina Activistas in Higher Education Institutions. During 2016- 2019 when Uva University received HSI designation, Latina Activistas organized and hosted social justice oriented programming, conferences, and community spaces. These programs left a lasting impact upon the academic institution and student body, which demonstrated the importance of scholar-activists' contribution to the college experience of underrepresented students. This research documents the experiences of the Mujerxs who led and participated in these organizing efforts and provides insight to how they created comunidad , on the basis of social activism and empowerment. Additionally, this research explores how these experiences molded the social identities of these women and continue to shape their lives and careers. Lastly this research serves to amplify and highlight the institutional inequalities faced by Latinas that have significantly impacted their academic trajectories and resulted in their reACTION!