Like many other Latinxs who teach at predominately white institutions, many are the instances when I am the only one. While this has led to numerous obstacles, such as social isolation, racial microaggressions and being the assumed official spokesperson for diversity, it has also provided the opportunity to further my commitment as a teacher-scholar-activist. I have developed courses for future teachers of Color, mentored and conducted research with students of Color, and cofounded a social justice education conference. As a result, when I was selected by the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education as a 2020 AAHHE Faculty Fellow, I was excited to join Latinx educators committed to advancing the education of historically underrepresented college students with intersecting identities. As I reflect on my experience as an AAHHE fellow, I am grateful for the intergenerational Latinx platicas, consejos and educacion. However, the most critical lesson came from the future generation of scholars and their call for us to move pa’lante!

 Rarely have I had the experience in academia to witness the brilliance of Latinx scholars. Too often, we are the only one in the room. Yet, throughout the fellowship, I was exposed to an intergenerational community of rising and senior Latinx scholars who imparted knowledge that was validating, inspiring and rejuvenating. During our platicas, we shared our stories, struggles and strategies of navigating academia, and collectively healed from the wounds and traumas that have been inflicted on us as scholars. In addition, consejos provided us the hidden curriculum of academia and, at times, a loving critique. I remember having impromptu conversations with Latino male scholars on acknowledging our unconscious machismo and moving toward anti-sexist masculinity in academia. I also gained guidance on research, such as hearing how fellows are centering their core values on their scholarship. I received advice to position my experience as a former K-12 student, teacher-activist and teacher educator as the through-line of my research. 

 At the conference, an unexpected opportunity emerged for our Latinx community to be reflective, responsive and repair the harm of intergenerational trauma rooted in colonialism. With the leadership of the AAHHE graduate fellows, they exposed that the programming and speakers were not acknowledging the African diaspora in Latin America, integrating the experience of Black/Caribbean/Afro Latinx scholars, and moments of anti-Blackness. The graduate fellows led us to consider the ways we as a Latinx community need to do better. They pedagogically facilitated dialogue, drew connections to prominent scholarship and proposed a comprehensive plan to repair this harm. I would be remiss to say that this lesson was harmoniously received. Instead, it required us to be reflective, enact humility and take up the call of the next generation. While unexpected, it truly reflected a new direction for an intergenerational Latinx community that embodied this year’s theme: ¡Adelante! Honoring Latinx Courage and Conciencia! As we continue to increase our representation in academia, we must not be complacent but move pa’lante! We must courageously acknowledge our Black/Caribbean/Afro Latinx presence, develop an intergenerational conciencia, and engage all generations in healing and liberating dialogue and action. •