Twentieth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

Metropolitan areas, such as Washington, DC, are a hub for diverse immigrant communities. From the late 1970s (the Cold War era) to the current time, Central Americans have arrived in the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia) area. University courses with community-based learning (CBL) at their core offer students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the push and pull factors that drew people from “Northern Triangle” countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) to this area. By engaging directly with the nongovernmental organizations which serve the local Latin community, students expand their global competencies and explore ways to address the myriad of challenges faced. NGOs are key to promoting the integration of migrants, refugees, and asylum speakers. Groups such as United We Dream which supports “dreamers,” Trabajadores Unidos, which works with day laborers, and the Congregation Action Network which address sanctuary, detention, and deportation, help students understand the current climate faced by the immigrant community and the role of both direct service and community organizing. Two specific courses provide the basis for this powerful pedagogy: “The Latino Community of the DC Metropolitan Area” and “Spanish Topics: Latina/o Migration, Identity, and Labor.” We examine the key elements that make this experience impactful and reciprocal, building strong campus-community collaboration and bridging differences related to class, race, and ethnicity. At the height of the national debate over immigration policy, this pedagogy brings a critical issue to life.