As part of the Illinois State University’s weeklong celebration of Bilingual Advocacy Week, Dr. González Ybarra will give a talk titled, “Language & Literacy Pedagogies of Solidarity with Latinx Youth and Communities” at 7 p.m. April 20, in the Old Main Room at the Bone Student Center. 

The talk is one of several free events celebrating the week. See highlights below.

The events are sponsored by Illinois State’s Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures; Latin American and Latino/a Studies program; College of Arts and Sciences; School of Teaching and Learning; College of Education; and Student Association for Bilingual Education. 

Dr. González Ybarra
Dr. González Ybarra. Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre/UTEP Communications

Dr. González Ybarra 
Ybarra argues the language, literacies, and knowledges of Latinx youth and communities continue to be overlooked and silenced within educational spaces. To challenge dominant ideologies about these communities, Ybarra will highlight how educators can work alongside Latinx youth, pre-service, and in-service teachers to engage in practices of teaching and learning that reflect and honor the epistemologies and lived realities of Latinx youth and communities. 

Ybarra’s research examines the language, literacies, and knowledge production of Latinx youth and educators as they are situated within sociopolitical contexts. She focuses on how these practices intersect with social constructions of race, gender, class, sexuality, and citizenship status. She takes a community-based approach to her work with an emphasis in participatory methods to collaborate with Latinx youth, families, and educators across educational contexts. Guided by Chicana/Latina feminist frameworks and critical perspectives in language and literacy education, she contributes to the gaps in research around the unique linguistic and cultural knowledge of Latinx communities. 

Some events for Bilingual Advocacy Week: 

Speaking Our Truth 
April 17, 6 p.m. 
Spotlight Room at the Bone Student Center 
For the kickoff event, come together to share “testimonies and truths” and create a mural to showcase participants. 

Aguas Frescas Fundraiser 
April 19, noon-3 p.m.  
Schroeder Plaza 
Visit Schroeder Plaza for a selection of refreshing aguas de frescas, including horchata, limon, piña, and sandia 

Nuggets of Wisdom 
April 19, 6 p.m. 
Schroeder 138 
Listen to Illinois State University bilingual education graduates share their experiences and how Illinois State helped shape them into the educators they are today. 

Dr. González Ybarra
April 20, 7 p.m. 
Old Main Room in the Bone Student Center 
Attend an insightful event featuring guest speaker Dr. González Ybarra as she highlights ways in which educators can collaborate with Latinx youth, pre-service, and in-service teachers to engage in teaching and learning practices.