I believe deeply in sovereignty and liberation–and to me that means working with and for community. However, what “community” means shifts based on whether I am home in Xela, talking about my local neighborhood of East L.A., working with teachers, or thinking about Mayas in L.A. It may seem my community efforts are all over the place and not tied to a coherent “research plan.” To me, these projects exist because a group of people wanted them to exist and we worked collectively to make it happen. Each of these has shaped me as a scholar and are a reflection of my own values.
The Marina Pando Social Justice Research Collaborative (MP-SJRC) was a collaboration between myself, Dr. Kristie Valdez-Guillen, and Jessica Prieto with East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice (EYCEJ). It was an opportunity for first generation undergraduate students of color who were already members of the organization to conduct research with the organization. It was an 8 week intensive program for participants that ultimately culminated in a poster session to present their research to the community. One of the fundamental beliefs of this program was that research skills are meant to be used in the service of collective well-being.
Dr. Boj Lopez discuses the origins and challenges of MP-SJRC
LA Comunidad Ixim
LA Comunidad Ixim is a collective of Maya, Xinca, and Chapines in Los Angeles that seek
Floridalma Boj Lopez, PhD 