History of the Américas: Legacies of the Cold War

July 11 - 19, 2023
Guatemala

The application deadline has passed. To learn about future programs for educators, join the CLAS For Educators mailing list.

Join the Center for Latin American Studies in Guatemala City and Antigua Guatemala to examine the Cold War and how it affected, and was shaped by, Latin America.

In this professional development institute designed to support the History-Social Science Framework for California Schools for grades K-12, expert Latin American Studies scholars and community organizers will provide rich content knowledge on the lasting effects of the Cold War on Guatemala, including the work of women and indigenous groups in rebuilding the social fabric while seeking justice.

Teachers will have the opportunity to experience being students again while deepening and broadening their content knowledge. Time will be provided for teachers to deepen their pedagogical practice and develop lessons with their evolving content and instructional knowledge gained during the institute, building curriculum that encourages students to think critically about key historical events and navigate complex and often contradictory content.

Faculty Lead

Irma Alicia Velásquez Nimatuj

Irma Alicia Velásquez Nimatuj is a Maya-K’iche’ social anthropologist and journalist. In 2002 she played a key role in the historical process of setting legal precedent through a court case that made racial discrimination illegal in Guatemala. She is the author of “La justicia nunca estuvo de nuestro lado”: Peritaje Cultural sobre conflicto y violencia sexual en el caso Sepur Zarco, Guatemala (2019), “Lunas y Calendarios”. Poesía Guatemalteca. (2018), Pueblos Indígenas, Estado y lucha por Tierra en Guatemala (2008), and La pequeña burguesía indígena comercial de Guatemala: Desigualdades de clase, raza y género (2003). She was a Tinker Visiting Professor at Stanford CLAS from 2019 to 2021. 

Program Details

Dates

July 11-19, 2023

July 11 and 19 are international travel days. Participants must arrive in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on July 11, and complete the institute programming through the evening of July 18.

Location

Guatemala City and Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala

Audience

Designed for middle school and high school History and Social Science teachers. Community college instructors also welcome. Space is limited to ensure a personalized learning opportunity.

Continuing Education Units

4 quarter units (40 hours of instruction) through Stanford Continuing Studies

Registration fee: $1,000*

  • Applicants with financial aid need and working in less-funded school districts are eligible to apply for supplemental financial aid in the form of small travel grants. Funding is made available through the U.S. Department of Education Title VI Grant. Funding is limited.
  • Registration fee covers lodging, breakfast and lunch, materials, ground transportation to and from program activities, programming while in Guatemala, and two flexible follow-up sessions in small groups to share resources and ideas for implementation.
  • Registration fees do not include participant travel to and from the program start/end at the hotel in Guatemala City, Guatemala. This must be coordinated and paid by the participant.
  • Registration fees do not include dinners or incidental costs such as passport fees, travel medical insurance, immunizations†, etc.

* Subsidized price as a result of U.S. Department of Education Title VI National Resource Center grant funding.
† Participants are responsible for ensuring they have the appropriate immunizations for the destination.

Schedule (subject to change)

July 11: Participants travel to Guatemala City, Guatemala; meet at hotel
July 12: Guatemala City
July 13: Guatemala City
July 14: Travel to Antigua in the morning
July 15: Visit to local community
July 16: Free day
July 17: Antigua
July 18: Antigua; travel back to Guatemala City
July 19: Participants travel back to the U.S.

Application Process

Application Deadline

The application period for this educator program has closed. For information on future programs, please join our CLAS For Educators mailing list.

Online application

  • Note: Google account sign-in is required to submit the application form.
  • Applicant profile information
  • Resume (upload)
  • A 300-500 word statement of interest (type in electronic form or upload)
    Applicant: The statement of interest should address why you are interested in the program, what makes you a good candidate, and how you plan to synthesize the knowledge and experience gained from this institute to maximize the benefits to your classroom, school, and district.

Letter of reference

  • Letter of reference should be written by a person in the position to evaluate the applicant, such as a principal, chair, advisor, or supervisor.
  • Letters should address the applicant’s ability to integrate observations, data collected, and readings into lessons; develop curriculum materials; train other teachers in the school district or at workshops and conferences; contribute to the group experience in regards to interpersonal and group-living skills; and/or engage with students.
  • Letters must include letterhead and a signature and be uploaded at the link provided.

Financial Aid Application (optional)

Online financial aid application form requires the following information:

  • Statement of Financial Need (type or paste into form): Explain why you are requesting financial assistance. Include information such as the professional development funding available through your school or district, what portion of the institute you are paying out of pocket, additional funding sources you have pursued (e.g. school or district funding, grant funding, local organizations near your work such as Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, Garden Clubs, etc.), and any special circumstances, extraordinary expenses, or additional information pertinent to why you are applying for financial assistance. (Maximum 1500 characters)
  • Budget (upload): Estimated total expenses and proposed costs to be covered by this award. Must indicate amount of financial assistance being provided by applicant's school/district/institution or other source, even if the amount is $0.

Applications will be reviewed by a review committee appointed by the Center for Latin American Studies at Stanford University.  Applicants will be contacted by early April with a decision.

All qualified applicants will be considered in accordance with Stanford University's Nondiscrimination Policy.  

Supplemental Materials

Supplemental materials are due April 15, 2023, after being accepted to the institute. Submitted electronically.

  • Copy of valid passport (with expiration date more than 6 months after the institute return date) or confirmation that passport application has been submitted
  • Signed Stanford Materials Release Form
  • Signed Stanford International Travel Waiver
  • Proof of international travel insurance (insuremytrip, "Comprehensive" coverage required)
  • A non-refundable deposit of $500 (paid by credit card or check) 

Registration Fee balance of $500 is due June 1, 2023 (paid by credit card or check).

Payments being made by check should be made out to Stanford University and mailed to

Center for Latin American Studies
c/o Molly Aufdermauer, Public Engagement Coordinator
582 Alvarado Row
Stanford, CA 94305-8545

Applicant is responsible for confirming receipt of all application materials.

Withdrawal/Cancellation Policies

Participant Withdrawal Policy

If, for any reason, an accepted participant chooses to withdraw from the institute, the participant must notify the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) by email to clasoutreach [at] stanford.edu. The program deposit is non-refundable. However, the participant may elect to use the cost of the deposit toward the fees of another CLAS teacher institute or workshop within a year. Program fees, exclusive of deposit, are refundable if CLAS receives the participant's written notification prior to the withdrawal deadline of June 8, 2023. If the participant withdraws from the institute after the withdrawal deadline, there are no refunds.

Institute Cancellation Policy

If the institute is canceled by CLAS for any reason, CLAS will be in touch with the participants directly regarding full refunds.

Program Contact

Molly Aufdermauer
Public Engagement Coordinator
Center for Latin American Studies
email: clasoutreach [at] stanford.edu
tel: 650-721-5530