Chicago Scholar

In a nation enriched by diversity, it's critical to ensure that our educational leadership reflects the richness of our Latino/a population & historical narratives. According to the Latino Policy & Politics Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 2021, the U.S. Latino population accounted for 19% of the total population, a 6% increase since 2000. However, despite this demographic shift, an imbalance exists in educational outcomes. Of the over 13,000 school districts in the U.S., only ~3% of superintendents are Latino or Latina. In response to this disparity, Chicago Scholar is amplifying Latino/a scholarly community voices – recognizing the importance of addressing this challenge & reaffirming a commitment to empowering Latino/a education. My parents immigrated to America from Mexico with nothing, speaking only Spanish, in search for the American Dream and -- instead worked tirelessly to survive paycheck to paycheck in one of Chicago's most poverty stricken steel barrios. As the son of Mexican immigrants, born & raised bilingual in inner city & multi-cultural Chicago, I understand the importance of education & academic representation. Being raised in a multicultural community surrounded by friends and family of all backgrounds – Puerto Ricans, Blacks, Cubans and Mexicans to name a few, helped inspire me. And thanks to my family & lived experiences, my passion is to give back through scholarly research in critical sports, Chicago & Mexican American history & culture empowering Latino/a scholars – to help make a difference. As a second year doctoral fellow, I know firsthand how research can inform educators & communities to better understand cultural history, create identity & challenge existing social power. Ethnographic research has the power to inform how educators can better understand multilingual groups & their use of language beyond a mere communicative purpose. Let’s connect, unite & together we will make a difference. #ChicagoScholar