Please see the full program schedule with abstracts, or scroll below to see the schedule with only titles and authors.
DAY 1 – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4th
12:00-1:00 pm – Il Monastero Front Hall
Conference Registration
1:00-2:15 pm – Sanctuary
Welcoming Remarks
- Kristin Sobolik, Chancellor, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Keynote 1 – Health & Well-being & Kickoff to Storytelling Festival
- Nestor Gomez
- Immigrant Journey – In this intimate and immersive performance, Gomez tells personal stories of his family’s immigration to the United States and the social, cultural, and linguistic struggles he has navigated ever since. Nestor believes that we’re all connected by universal experiences; his stories will draw you in and connect you to those experiences. Be prepared to laugh and commiserate with him and his unforgettable personal stories. Nestor is a Chicago poet and author of Your Driver Has Arrived – stories about his ride-sharing experiences.
2:15-2:30 pm – Break
2:30-3:45 pm – Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Breakout 1 – Storytelling Workshop (English) – SANCTUARY
- Find Your Voice – Nestor Gomez, Chicago Poet & Author
Breakout 2 – Community & Economic Development Presentations – ST. CABRINI
- Latine Farmworker Recruitment and Community Wellbeing in Ohio, Isaiah Franco, The Ohio State University
- Advancing Inclusive and Culturally Responsive Leadership Programs for Latiné Communities in Minnesota, Guillermo Narváez, University of Minnesota
- Social Capital, Belonging, and Mental Wellbeing in Multicultural Communities, Sarah Caldera Wimmer & Andrea Somoza, LifeWise StL
- Stronger Together: Building Lasting Change Through Collaborative Advocacy, Ben Molina, Hispanic Leaders Groups of Greater St. Louis, & Gabby Eisner, Convener, Missouri Immigration Policy Coalition
Breakout 3 – Education & Youth Development Workshop – ST. MADELEINE
- Growing Up with Pride: Fostering Additive Bilingualism in a Multilingual America, Amanda Niedzwiecki, Carver Dual Language School
Breakout 4 – Health Workshop – ST. KATHERINE
- Helping Newcomers Be STRONG! Our experience providing the Supporting Transition Resilience of Newcomer Groups (STRONG) in a school setting, Jessica McDonald & Deena Murdock, Carthage R9 School District
Breakout 5 – Education & Youth Development Workshop – ROSE
- Using AI to Make Programs, Routines and Resources Accessible, Ryan Rumpf, Missouri Office of Refugee Administration
4:00-5:30 pm – Sanctuary (and St. Louise de Marillac)
Opening Reception & Cash Bar
Musical Guest: Lucas Willsie
- Lucas Willsie is a clarinetist praised for his “accentuated juxtaposition of lyrical lines and passage work” (The Clarinet Online). He teaches woodwinds and music theory at Central Methodist University’s Swinney Conservatory of Music in Missouri and performs regularly across North America and Europe. A member of the Hijinx Clarinet Quartet, Lucas blends traditional, contemporary, and multimedia elements in performance. He has extensive orchestral experience, has recorded with the North Texas Wind Symphony, and has performed as a soloist with numerous ensembles. Lucas holds a DMA from the University of North Texas and is an Artist with Henri Selmer Paris.
Poster Exhibition
- MexStl.org, Sara Hernández Angulo, Jade Pita del Prado, Jonah Zacks, Washington University
- LGBTQ Students in Public Schools-How Can We Help? Sarah Langley, University of Saint Thomas
- The History of Dual Language Education In: Kansas City Public Schools, Marena Nuñez Cruz, University of Missouri-Columbia
- Providing linguistically accessible mental health services in Missouri: A question of capacity or demand? Miranda Wood, HEART Lab, University of Missouri-Columbia
DAY 2 – THURSDAY, JUNE 5th
8:30-9:00 am – St. Louise de Marillac
Breakfast
9:00-10:15 am – Sanctuary
Keynote 2 – Education & Youth Development
- Socorro Herrera, Kansas State University
- Querencia: Comunidad, Familia y Fortaleza – In community, we will engage in conversation for collective change that is grounded in our history and faith in our own strength. Together we will explore intersections of community, family and fortitude to uplift and leverage la historia, el lenguaje and y la cultura of the home and community for educators and students. We will reflect on how to create spaces where the learner’s full “humanity” is shared, valued, and made part of the tapestry of learning without reservation.
10:15-10:30 am – Break
10:30-11:45 am – Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Breakout 1 – Education & Youth Development Workshop – SANCTUARY
- Community, Family and Biography: Situating and Valuing All Knowledge – Socorro Herrera, Kansas State University
Breakout 2 – Storytelling Workshop – ST. CABRINI
- Storytelling for Impact: Communicating Research, Practice, and Policy Across Sectors, Thi Nguyen
Breakout 3 en español – Health Workshop – ST. MADELEINE
- Arte y duelo migratorio: Pintando nuevos caminos, Erendira Garcia Guzman, Coach de bienestar emocional, LifeWise StL
Breakout 4 – Education & Youth Development Panel – ST. KATHERINE
- Fostering State Capacity to Support Refugee Newcomers to Missouri K-12 Schools
- Emily Crawford, University of Missouri-Columbia
- Shawn Cockrum, Missouri Office of Refugee Administration
- Shelly Wooten Fair, Columbia Public Schools
- Juan José Reyes, Cambio Center
12:00-1:00 pm – St. Louise de Marillac
Lunch
1:00-2:15 pm – Sanctuary
Keynote 3 – Civil Rights & Political Participation
- Daniel I. Morales, University of Houston
- Recovering Migration’s Reality in a Surreal World – Forty years of bipartisan effort have gone into producing today’s surreal migration horrors; a world where America’s greatest strength—the ability to integrate newcomers into society— is felt by most citizens today to be its biggest liability. In this talk I will explore the ways law has helped to produce the present moment and how social movements might work to push us out of it; if only law can both get out of the way—and lend a hand.
2:15-2:30 pm – Break
2:30-3:45 pm – Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Breakout 1 – Community & Economic Development Presentations – SANCTUARY
- Latinos Contributions to the United States’ Economy, Marcelo Siles, Julian Samora Research Institute, Michigan State University
- Establishing a Community Centered Multicultural, Multilingual Participatory Advisory Council, Natalie Gemberling-Webb & Sarah Caldera Wimmer, LifeWise StL
- Asian Americans Live Here: Oral Histories, Origins and Opportunities for Reclamation, Robin Hattori, Japanese American Citizens League
- Welcoming in Central Illinois, Ricardo Diaz & Rachel Joy, City of Champaign
Breakout 2 – Health Research Presentations – ST. CABRINI
- The ‘Viviendo Bien’ study: Optimal Wellness for Missouri’s Hispanic people, Maithe Enriquez, University of Missouri
- Exploring sub-Saharan African immigrant males’ experiences of gender roles and Intimate Partner Violence in the US: A critical qualitative inquiry, Annie Banda, Iowa State University
- Increasing access to mental healthcare: A qualitative appraisal of barriers and opportunities for Spanish-speaking populations in Columbia, Missouri, Miranda Wood & Maia Zalik Markollari, University of Missouri-Columbia
Breakout 3 en español – Storytelling Workshop – ST. MADELEINE
- Descubre su voz, Nestor Gomez, Poeta y Autor de Chicago
Breakout 4 – Education & Youth Development Workshop – ST. KATHERINE
- Cultivating Global Citizens: Developing Intercultural Competence in High School Students, Sarah Wolters, Sarah Wolters Co
4:00-5:30 pm – Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Breakout 1 – Health Panel – SANCTUARY
- “Good data, better lives”: Using the All of Us Research Program to engage communities and researchers to better understand Latino health
- Maria Jose Sanchez, University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Marcela Carvajal, University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Natalia Trinidad, University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Athena Ramos, University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Misty Phillips, University of Missouri-Columbia
Breakout 2 – Education & Youth Development Presentations – ST. CABRINI
- Exploring Bilingual Education in Oregon: Equity, Resilience, and the Future of Multilingual Learning, Carrie Larson, Pacific University & Esperanza De La Vega, Portland State University
- The Role of Latino Teachers’ Lived Experiences in Shaping their Retention in Midwestern Schools, Haydee Taylor-Arnold, Ladue Horton Watkins High School & Foreign Language Association of Missouri
- SchoolLink: Bridging Gaps and Supporting All School Communities, Donna Garcia & Valeria Adams, ParentLink / SchoolLink
- Teaching for Translanguaging: Lessons from a Newly Expanding Language Policy Context, Alissa Blair & Vicki Collet, University of Arkansas
Breakout 3 en español – Education & Community Development Presentations – ST. MADELEINE
- Redacción colaborativa de textos académicos: una actividad basada en el Aprendizaje Colaborativo, Nadya Carolina Portillo Flores, Escuela Agrícola Panamericana Zamorano, Honduras
- Migrants Narrative Typologies: How do Spanish-speaking migrants construct knowledge about migration through digital platforms? Indiana Garcia Torres, University of Missouri-Columbia
- Resisting Linguistic Marginalization: Lessons from Colombian Interns and Rural Latine Youth in the U.S., Alejandro Baquero Sierra, Purdue University
Breakout 4 – Education & Youth Development Workshop – ST. KATHERINE
- Collaboration for PreK-3 Transitions with Bi/Multilingual Children, Amanda Spalter, Tricia Blanco, WIDA, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Eduardo Pérez, Western Illinois University
6:00-8:30 pm – Film Screening at Washington University
Un Día Normal by Mexicut Films
Panelists Include:
- Director Maurizio Dominguez
- William D. Lopez, School of Public Health & Latina/o Studies, University of Michigan
- Cynthia Feliciano, Sociology, Washington University
DAY 3 – FRIDAY, JUNE 6th
8:30-9:00 am – St. Louise de Marillac
Breakfast & PICK UP FOR OPTIONAL SITE VISITS
During this time, the participants who signed up for Site Visits to LifeWise StL and SEED St. Louis will meet up. They will enjoy their visits and share some food, between 9-11 am. More details on pick-up/drop-off will be provided at the conference!
9:00-10:15 am – Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Breakout 1 – Community & Economic Development Panel – SANCTUARY
- Texas-Mexican Music and Community in the Midwest: Telling Our Story Through Oral History
- Richard Dávila, Julian Samora Research Institute, Michigan State University
- Alicia Loza, Community Member
- Jose Chapa, Community Member
- Daniel Oropeza, Community Member
Breakout 2 – Civil Rights & Political Participation Workshop – ST. CABRINI
- What Researchers Can Learn from Community Organizers and Why Organizers Need More Economics
- Trinidad Raj Molina & Itzel Vargas-Valenzuela, Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation (AIRR)
Breakout 3 – Education & Youth Development Panel – ST. MADELEINE
- Vivimos Aquí! Interpreting and Projecting Latiné Students’ Educational Outcomes: Using Research and AI
- Theresa Torres, University of Missouri-Kansas City
- Robert Johnson, University of Missouri-Kansas City
- Robert-Abel Porras, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Breakout 4 – Education & Youth Development Workshop – ST. KATHERINE
- ¡Estudiamos Acá! Resilience, Resistance, and Well-Being in U.S. Higher Education Through Our Own Practices
- Sophia Piral Lee, University of Missouri-Columbia
- Maryluz Hoyos Ensuncho, MOST Policy Initiative
10:15-10:30 am – Break
10:30-11:45 am – Concurrent Storytelling Sessions
Breakout 1 – SANCTUARY
- Amplifying Voices, Building Bridges: Stories of Strength, Storytelling, and Solidarity
- Esmeralda Aharon, #1 International Best Selling Author
- Gabriela Ramirez-Arellano, #1 International Best Selling Author
- Krysta Grangeno, #1 International Best Selling Author
Breakout 2 – ST. CABRINI
- Stories from Immigrant Women in Rural Missouri, Kandice Grossman & Rebecca Scott, University of Missouri-Columbia
- Latina Entrepreneurs of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro STL, Martha Garcia Kampen & Elsa Avila
Breakout 3 – ST. MADELEINE
- Story circle (for storytelling workshop participants)
Breakout 4 – ST. KATHERINE
- Story circle (for storytelling workshop participants)
Breakout 5 – ROSE
- Story recording room (for storytelling workshop participants)
12:00-1:30 pm – Sanctuary
Lunch with Keynote 4 – Community & Economic Development
- Gilberto Pinela, Director of the Office of New Americans
- Bridging Opportunity: How New Americans Are Shaping the Future of St. Louis – New Americans are helping shape the future of St. Louis—starting businesses, revitalizing neighborhoods, and contributing to a more dynamic and inclusive city. The City’s Office of New Americans is paving the way by ensuring that immigrants and refugees have access to the tools, resources, and support they need to thrive. Under the administration of Mayor Cara Spencer, the Office will continue to serve as a vital bridge—connecting communities, fostering economic opportunity, and assuring that all newcomers are genuinely welcomed and have a sense of belonging.