Description         Themes         Pedagogy         Speakers



Program Description
 The typical CCIDD experience is centered around education and reflection on global justice, specifically in the context of Mexico and Latin America. Although we offer two general types of programs, a faith based experience and a secular experience, we design each program around the specific interests and needs of a school, church or community group. In addition to community visits and local speakers, time is set aside for group reflection, critical analysis, spiritual reflection, celebration, and free time to relax and explore Cuernavaca and the surrounding area.

Both faith-based and secular programs include contact with urban and rural Mexicans working for change, visits to a diverse cross-section of communities, cooperatives, and archeological sites. Within the program participants are encouraged through reflection and analysis to make connections between struggles for liberation in Mexico and similar struggles in communities back home. All CCIDD programs focus on individual and community empowerment to act for social justice. Undergraduate and graduate level participants, as well as teachers and social workers, come to CCIDD for intercultural dialogues.

Highlights of CCIDD immersion experience
When you come to Cuernavaca, many opportunities await you! Look and see some of the places our participants visit.

Program Themes
Most CCIDD programs address several of these issues  depending on the interest, background, and focus of each program group.

  • church
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  • environment
  • faith and economics
  • gender oppression
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  • globalization
  • health
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  • human rights
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  • immigration
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  • indigenous spirituality
  • labor issues
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  • militarism
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  • racism
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  • urban/rural poverty
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  • women
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    Program Pedagogy
    The principle work of CCIDD is education for social change. Our goal is to equip program participants with tools for global citizenship. Shaped by the thinking of such educators as Paulo Freire, bell hooks and the Augsburg Center for Global Education, CCIDD embraces the "See, Judge, Act" model of learning. Principles of this model include:

  • Transformative education enables learners to critically reflect upon the world and their role in it.

  • In order to truly know others, learners must know how they themselves have been shaped by their social context.

  • Liberating education happens when people of privilege have opportunities to dialogue with people from the margins of society.

  • Learning to ask questions is more useful than arriving at answers.

  • We are all teachers and learners.

  • Learning takes place in the context of community.

  • Learning is a holistic process engaging all the senses and encouraging different learning styles.

  • The most important thing to be learned is openness to the process of change.

    (adapted from the work of former CCIDD Board member Ann Lutterman-Aguilar for NAFSA Conference, May 1999)

    Check out our Resources/Links list to find more background information on our basic program themes.

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    Speakers
    Ross Gandy – An entertaining professor Ross lives in Cuernavaca and addresses political and socio-economic development through Mexico¡s history up until present day. He is a professor at the University in Mexico City and also teaches in language schools and other centers in Cuernavaca.

    Ofelia Laureano – An inspiring speaker, Ofelia gives her personal testimony of empowerment as a woman, working her way out of oppressive situations. She highlights her activism in explaining her organizing to bring about structural change, including the development of Habitat for Humanity in Morelos.

    United Artisans Cooperative – Provides CCIDD participants with an opportunity to learn how each Artisan group came to be apart of the Co-op, eliminating the middle merchant costs, preserving the cultural identity through the arts, sharing leadership and responsibilities in common. This is also an excellent shopping opportunity for CCIDD guests.

    Nacho Ramirez – From the community of Amatlán, Nacho Ramirez shares with us his identity, insights, knowledge, and wisdom of the Indigenous Nahuatl culture as we tour the ancient pyramid of Xochicalco. He also speaks eloquently on Nahuatl spirituality and traditions.

    Isidro, indigenous artisan from Tlamacazapa. Isidro presents the reality of life in a rural, agricultural-based community of Tlamacazapa and shares stories of his family and his personal commitment to the Gospel. He and his family weave beautiful multi-colored palm leave baskets available for purchase at CCIDD.

    Kim Erno –From ELCA, Evangelical Lutheran Center of the Americas in Mexico City, Kim, an ordained minister, is Director of the Mexico City Center engaging Lutheran seminarians and others in cross cultural learning and social analysis through theological reflection. Kim addresses Liberation theology with CCIIDD groups and also shares about his project of collectively working on a documentary regarding border issues and the femicides of Ciudad Juarez.

    Gloria Cruz – A strong, faith-filled Salvadoran woman shares her vivid memories of life during the civil war in El Salvador in the 80’s and her courageous journey of arriving with family in Cuernavaca. Gloria also participates in the artisan market which is near CCIDD.

    Malaquias Flores Family – Great opportunity to meet with a family; experiences and themes revolve around Base Christian Communities, Canadian immigration, women’s issues and a sewing cooperative.

    El Pregón – A politically conscious group of youth and young adults present a leftist-slanted monthly newspaper and organize events and forums; they share their experiences of working together, popular movements and their involvement in current events.
     

                           email ccidd@cableonline.com.mx
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