Chasing Earth-light: The Year I landed Two National Fellowships

2021 for many has been a year of rediscovery, destiny-inventory, and self-examination. It has been as Charles Dickens penned, “The best of times, and the worst of times.” Turning inward, this pilgrimage has been both revelatory and guiding, mixed with hues of dark greys and illuminating candescent light.

Going deeping into the dimensions of mindful contemplations, Mother Earth and her Universe creates such incredible pathways by which, if we are fortunate enough as the traveler to actually identify the trajectory and step one’s foot on the dirt terrain that is leading forward. 

Such was the case for me. Eclipsed with possibility, I had to analyze why I was such a chaser, a desired player in this grandiose stage called my life’s purpose. To which I realized, desiring more than affirmations, though creating heart smiles each time...I was drawn and still am drawn to being in the right place at the right time. Relinquishing to my tendencies enveloped in my DNA, it’s disdaining to simply be a passerby and watch the plane I’m supposed to be on take flight without my seat at the window. 

The soul-pull has been distracting. I swear I could be in a room full of folks, or by myself in my morning devotions and meditations and be summoned by this call, this earth-light that arrests my senses, my mind-space, and my search. Now an act of obedience, I lean in like I would to a friend over coffee and give her my ear, my closed eyes, and undivided attention. Without reservation or hesitation, Spirit spoke, and here’s what was spoken. 

“You’re to be an advocate for the most vulnerable, apply pressure to political stakeholders in powerful positions, elevate your voice for equity and justice...and find your seat at the table at a national and international level.” Something along these lines. Marching orders in hand, I set on this path. Here’s where I landed. 

These tables were long and vast, colorful and vivacious, ripe with networking fruits of opportunity and possibility. In apprehensive serendipity with wide-eyes, I pulled out my chair and swallowed any nerves that were ascending. Smiles ricocheted like lightning on the faces of those who were with me, in front of me, alongside me at this vintage table. I knew I was in a kairos moment, and somehow I knew it was only the beginning. 

Latinos for Education: Latinx Teachers Fellowship 2021 https://www.latinosforeducation.org

Latinos for Education is the largest national Latino-led organization that is leading the charge in the elevation of the Latino voice in the education sector. They are leading a coalition of Latino education leaders to increase access and more equitable pathways for Latino children as well. With a focus on the Latino educator, leader, and Latino students and families, they have found their seat at the table and are shedding light on national issues and policies that impact our population from educational inequities, lack of Latino representation in seats of power and decision-making spheres, and Latino students and families that still suffer from the opportunity gap compared to their white counterparts.

Awarded into an extremely competitive fellowship, I was the only representative from IL in my cohort of over 60 fellows spread across the East Coast and Texas to name some regions. It was one of the most intoxicating professional experiences of my life. Still a current fellow till Spring of 2022, I joined a family, a band of brotherhood and sisterhood of like-minded, brown-skinned, agents of change that are doing some healing-transformation work in their classrooms and in their areas of influence for the sake of equal education opportunity and a demand for more support for the Latinx Educator. 

Like visiting a carpenter’s shed, metaphoric pieces of wood, hammers, and nails were dispersed about--tables were made, created before us, seats were pulled out and mics were positioned underneath our chins---we had a voice and a seat, and they made sure to amplify both. Be still my justice-beating, Latina bleeding, activist heart. 

Each session broken open a new layer of my linguistic narrative, my Latina roots unearthed, and the importance of leading from that identity. A dam of information, development, and revitalization spilled over us like we were standing under the Niagara falls and were soaking wet with promise and affirmations.

One session I shared my story of pain, trauma, PTSD, and the loss of my students to gang and gun violence. To the point of embarrassment, I fell apart before the entire cohort, to include the presenter of that day. Yet, they each wiped my tears, elevating a safe space for me, and told me never to apologize for my passion and my deep wounds that shaped who I am as an Educator and Crusader for liberation of the most underserved and at-risk kids in our nation. 

I even found a mentor in this fold, a powerful and accomplished Latina woman who is the Chief Policy and Advocacy Advisor for Latinos for Education. She is wreaking havoc in the education policy realm and has reserved seats at education policy decision-making tables with her name etched in the wood. Eternally grateful to have someone see me enough to walk alongside me in my journey-well, there’s no price tag for this. I'm also being called on to do some additional work and projects with them. Yes, and amen...call on me-I am here for it.

This fiesta is just getting started...mi familia, mi nueva comunidad, I am with you. Thank you for choosing me. 

Fulbright Scholar: Teachers for Global Classrooms

https://www.irex.org/project/fulbright-teachers-global-classrooms-program-fulbright-tgc

Project 214 has afforded access to the world, traveling to different international terrains. Thus, global education has been knocking on my classroom door as of late. Last school year I was able to receive a paid global education module opportunity through my district with Nonprofit United Planet. My AP students engaged in an 8 week module focusing on Sustainable Development Goals, choosing Global Education as our central focus. 

In the Zoom and Moodle room were countries like Tanzania, Iraq, Iran, and Greenland. We journeyed together to discuss solutions to world issues like poverty, education, and gender inequality. Our capstone presentations were viewed and listened to by US Embassy Ambassadors and the president of United Planet.  This was an opportunity for my students who already lack additional resources to experience as a form of equity and educational rights I felt they deserved and were often denied. Then it hit me...I should take this to another level. 

I set on a quest to investigate any teacher opportunities that would provide teachers and students with a key to the world, a passport to the nations. And I found it indeed. 

The Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program (Fulbright TGC) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. It is governed by policies established by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms equips educators from the United States to bring an international perspective to their schools through targeted training, experience abroad, and global collaboration. This yearlong professional learning opportunity for K–12 educators features an intensive online course and a short international exchange.

With 100’s of applicants from across the United States, I got the congratulatory email on my brother’s birthday in the parking lot of the brunch place we just dined at. I started pacing the black asphalt and praising the heavens in front of my two kids, who by the way were wondering what the heck was wrong with mami. 

Joining aligned stars in my psyche, my inner woman was backflipping and succumbing to the sensations of purpose that thrusted me into this parking lot dance without notice---and so we danced for but a moment in the daylight.

Ever focused, I get to join my wins from the Latinx Teacher Fellowship and this new found table extension with Fulbright and enter this space with confidence and knowing. This is the mother flagship for International Teacher Exchange, celebrating their 75th anniversary this year. I get to travel to a different country and spend almost a month there, immersing myself in the culture, the education system, and their classrooms. I get to go to Washington DC for a symposium, engage in an online global education course at the masters level, and come back to my home district and share my experiences as an expert in global education and promote its benefits and positive student outcomes.

I have to pick a focus on what I want to concentrate my efforts on at an international level. I’m thinking of disrupting the texts and promoting this idea of diversity in our curriculums. Does the country I will venture off to (which by the way can be Africa, Asia, India, or Honduras to name some) celebrate the heroes of their time and their culture? I shall find out. Representation matters in the classroom and in what we teach. Bridging these two fellowships together for justice, equity, and culturally responsive curriculum, I believe I'm onto something and couldn't be more willing and thrilled to have been selected. 

I end with this...thank you for reading this far with me: Can I tell you something? Lean into me right now, let me get your ear for a second. You will receive whatever energy you call to yourself. The Universe guided by a Sovereign Reign will lead every pilgrim on this journey called life to their respective purpose and destination-therein shall lie your deepest seat of fulfillment, original design, and moral compass. 

Sit still, breathe...take the time to get notes and enlightenment from this spiritual energy that our Mother Earth is endowing. Trust me when I say, this reverent posture that I now exist in has granted me the mapquest I needed to find these two fellowships that are truly setups for the next province I’m supposed to aspire to. 

Chase the earth-light. Chase her, or better put, allow her to chase you. Good fortunes my fellow traveler.  Leaving you with these words...

"When I dare to be powerful-to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid. "

-Audre Lorde