NCORE Reflection

Juju Wong, IRT’15 discusses her experience at the conference

During my very first NCORE® experience this past May, I organized a panel discussion titled, “The Impact of the UCLA & UH Mānoa Hawaiʻi Program on the Next Generation of Social Justice Educators,” with my mentor, Dr. Rod Labrador (UH Mānoa), and scholar-friends, Miya Sommers (UC Berkeley) and Kirin Rajagopalan (UC Davis).

In 2014, we participated in the UCLA Asian American Studies x UH Mānoa Department of Ethnic Studies Travel Study Program as undergraduate students.

10 years later, we reunited to discuss the impact of ethnic studies pedagogy and curriculum – in practice – to our roles as educators within higher education institutions, public and independent schools, and community organizations. 

It was such a fulfilling experience to storytell and share how Professor Rod’s incorporation of decolonizing frameworks, such as land-based pedagogies, Critical Race Theory & Indigeneity shaped our commitment to social justice, collective resistance & community empowerment.

Better yet, I was reminded that I bring a unique interdisciplinary lens to my educational equity work. Through ethnic studies, higher education theories, and social-emotional learning, I aim to encourage youth to take ownership of their learning to make transformative change, reimagine, and create a world that ALL young people deserve to be free in.

(L-R): Kirin Rajagopalan (UC Davis),  Dr. Rod Labrador (University of Hawai’I, Mānoa),
Juju Wong, IRT’15 and Miya Sommers (UC Berkeley).