The community is invited to a free screening of the documentary, “Stolen Education,” with a keynote address by documentarian Enrique Aleman Jr. from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at the NMSU Dona Ana Community College East Mesa Campus Auditorium. A panel discussion also will be included in “Juntos! Working Together, Working as One.”
The event is part of “Exploring Equity, Community & Hope in New Mexico,” a series of three community gatherings, hosted this spring by New Mexico State University College of Education associate professor Azadeh Osanloo, who serves as the Stan Fulton Chair for the Improvement of Border and Rural Schools.
“Stolen Education” documents Aleman’s journey to recapture the remarkable story of schoolchildren who changed educational history in Texas when in 1956 eight Mexican-American children testified in a federal desegregation court case about the injustices they had faced by the school system. Aleman’s mother, Lupe, was the first child to testify.
Aleman, an the assistant vice president for student equity and diversity at the University of Utah, is working to develop and implement retention and academic success programs for underrepresented students. He is an associate professor of educational leadership and policy in the College of Education and a faculty affiliate in the Ethnic Studies Program. Aleman’s research includes studying the effects of educational policy on Latina/o students and communities.
Osanloo said the events are intended to support the development of new relationships and networks in southern New Mexico, particularly between educators and the community, to share current experiences and collaborate in support of success for all students. She was named the Stan Fulton Chair in 2013. The chair was established to enhance communication among NMSU faculty, staff and students and pre-kindergarten through 12th grade constituents to improve border and rural schools. In this capacity, the chair works to expand, improve and coordinate existing outreach programs and research activities.