UCSD Graduate Student
Email: 5vazque@ucsd.edu
Cynthia Vázquez is a second-year graduate student in Latin American
Studies at UCSD. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2008. In Las Vegas, she was
active in community politics and social justice issues and taught a
dropout-prevention program targeting Latinas/os through the University
of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Her research interests include
education, history, borders/frontiers, and ethnic identity among
California and Baja California indigenous people.
Project Summary
A high school dropout prevention program is being created to respond to
the high pushout rates among the Kumeyaay, specifically working with
Campo Reservation. The ten-week program will be delivered in two-hour
modules in community centers and school settings. The program will be
based on Kumeyaay traditions, cultural values, and heritage, with an
emphasis on the historic importance of education then and now. This
projects aims to strengthen ethnic identity among Campo youth while
connecting them to outside resources needed to successfully navigate the
education pipeline. Campo elders, parents, youth, and community
partners will be active participants in developing and delivering the
program.