Migrant Realities of Work and Care

This conference examines the trajectories of Latin American migration to the United States, analyzing the relationships between movement, labor, and care economies. Focusing on both historical patterns and contemporary realities, we analyze the contributions of Latin American migrants to the economic growth and social fabric of the United States.

The proceedings are organized through three distinct yet interconnected frameworks:

• “Stories of Work and Land” delves into the historical underpinnings of migration, from the Bracero Program and the Gold Rush to contemporary H2A visas and farm labor. This panel explores how Latin American migration has been systematically mobilized to serve U.S. economic interests in agriculture and beyond.

• “Taking Care of Care” theorizes the essential yet undervalued labor performed by Latinx communities. Focusing on health care, domestic work, and gendered dimensions of motherhood, it amplifies the voices of Latina women and LGBTQ+ workers and activists, highlighting their role in community building and collective well-being.

• “Moving to Work, Working to Move” investigates the contemporary challenges of migrant labor, including workplace ICE raids, racial profiling, and the struggle for rights and resources. Centering activism and collective action, this panel brings together organizers, journalists, and scholar-activists to discuss structural injustices and the role of community-informed scholarship.

Through interdisciplinary scholarship and community-engaged dialogue, this conference examines the complex dynamics of Latin American migration to the United States. It explores how migration patterns intersect with economic systems and care economies, while also addressing contemporary policy developments affecting migrant communities. This gathering brings together scholars, practitioners, and community voices to foster thoughtful discussion about migration frameworks, community responses, and pathways toward constructive solutions that support migrant well-being and social cohesion.

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Panels will take place at Encina Commons room 123, Stanford, CA 94305

8:30–9:00 a.m.

Coffee and pastries

9:00–9:15 a.m.

Welcome and opening remarks

9:15–10:45 a.m.

Panel 1: Stories of Work and Land

• Discussant: Alejandro Valentín Martínez, Master’s Student of World Languages and Literatures, San José State University

• Alberto García, Associate Professor of History, San José State University

• Francisco Jiménez, Professor Emeritus of Modern Languages, Santa Clara University

• Armando Elenes, Secretary Treasurer, United Farm Workers

10:45–11:00 a.m.

Break

11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Panel 2: Taking Care of Care

• Discussant: Ana María Díaz Pinto, Doctoral Student of Music, University of California, Davis

• Emma Amador, Assistant Professor of History, University of Connecticut

• Sebastian Hidaldo, Artist / Journalist, John S. Knight Journalism Fellow, Stanford University

• Alma Santana, Directora de derechos del inmigrante y educación cívico político, Mujeres Unidas y Activas

12:30–1:30 p.m.

Poster session & lunch

1:30–3:00 p.m.

Panel 3: Moving to Work, Working to Move

• Discussant: David Lemus, Doctoral Student of Iberian & Latin American Cultures, Stanford University

• Wendy Fry, Investigative Journalist, CalMatters

• Roberto Lovato, Journalist, Assistant Professor of English, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• Odilia Romero, Executive Director, Comunidades Indígenas en liderazgo (CIELO)

3:00–3:25 p.m.

Poetry reading and reflective commentary by Leticia Hernández-Linares, Assistant Professor of Latina/Latino Studies, San Francisco State University

3:25–3:40 p.m.

Closing remarks

4:00–5:30 p.m.

Reception and live music at Bolívar House, 582 Alvarado Row, Stanford, CA 94305
Featuring musical guests Carlos Mejía Godoy y Los Embajadores

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This conference is hosted by the Latin American Studies Consortium of Northern California (LASC-NorCal) – comprising San José State University (SJSU), the Hemispheric Institute on the Americas (HIA) at the University of California, Davis, and the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) at Stanford University.