My dissertation interrogates mestizaje and nationalism to rethink academic tendencies that construct resistant methodologies and singular national representations of hybrid theories and racial identities. To ground this argument, chapters one and two analyze how nationalism compromises current theoretical and feminist uses of mestizaje. The introductory chapter traces the influence of Latin American cultural theorists such as Jose Vasconcelos (1925) and Fernando Ortiz (1940) on contemporary U.S. Latino/a cultural critics. I argue that by selectively borrowing theoretical elements from Ortiz and Vasconcelos, U.S. Latino/a scholars unintentionally consolidate divergent Latino/a histories as well as ignore issues of nation building, class differences, and racial tensions to promote a unitary discourse of subversive mestizaje. Likewise, my analysis of Jovita Gonzalez's novel Caballero (1930) reveals how Gonzalez's feminist tactics counteract Mexico's patriarchal oppression of women by going against traditional feminist themes esteemed in Chicano/a Studies. For Gonzalez, nationalist tropes of indigenous curanderismo (spirituality) and magical realism insufficiently respond to the needs of oppressed Mexican American women. The final two chapters evaluate the ramifications of constructing unitary racial identities of whiteness and blackness. My final investigation uncovers the existence of ethnicities within North American racial categorizations of whiteness and blackness that provide new insights to mestizaje 's disruption of ordered classifications of race in the United States. Chapter three argues that the southeastern European immigrant experience of racial inclusion and exclusion from Anglo Saxon whiteness allowed Maria Amparo Ruiz de Burton to play off of new conceptions of whiteness in an evolving imaginary of white U.S. mestizaje to write her novels The Squatter and the Don (1885) and Who Would Have Thought It? (1872). Chapter four examines the rise of the New Negro Movement during the Harlem Renaissance as a cultural event that required the erasure of individuals in the black community who did not mirror the collective identity of African Americans. This chapter specifically studies Puerto Rican archivist Arthur A. Schomburg as a figure who broadened the conception of the New Negro to recognize the intellectual participation and contribution of Afro Caribbeans to the Harlem Renaissance.

The present study examines the Great Temple of the Aztecs as it has been seen through the eyes of different people through time. It does not intend to be a comprehensive history of the Temple's interpretations, as many important viewpoints have been discarded for the sake of the central questions. It exemplifies three important moments in which the Great Temple of the Aztecs was "reinvented": sixteenth-century New Spain, the Enlightenment in New Spain and Europe, and the Mexican post-revolutionary PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional) regime in the twentieth century. It concentrates on interests of three different groups of people which had different visions and agendas to fulfill: the regular orders during the sixteenth century (Franciscans and Dominicans), the early philosophers of history during the eighteenth century, and the scholars, scientists, artists and architects involved in the national reconstruction after the Mexican Revolution of 1910. This dissertation contains a history of the "ideas" of the Temple, revealing, among other things, the way in which contemporary Mexicans have constructed their identity and ways of action. The general ideas of "the Great Temple of the Aztecs" mediated by different viewpoints -as is the scientific one, or the one of the ruling party- say more about contemporary fields of knowledge and national politics than about the temple or the Aztecs "itself." The reading of these different interpretations does not intend to discredit them, but to raise the broader issue of the complexity of human self-understanding. The challenge would be to "loosen" rigid rational understandings in order to visualize the world as something that is given, alive, and unique. This would raise the possibility / La présente étude examine le Grand Temple des Aztèques comme il a été vu à travers les yeux de différentes personnes à différents moments de l´histoire. Il n'a pas l'intention d'être une histoire de l'interprétation du Temple, puisque de nombreux points de vue importants ont été mis de coté pour approfondir la question centrale. Il insiste sur trois grands moments dans lesquels le Grand Temple des Aztèques a été "réinventé": le XVIe siècle en Nouvelle-Espagne, le siècle des Lumières en Europe et en Nouvelle-Espagne, et le Mexique post-révolutionnaire du XXe siècle. L´attention est concentrée sur les intérêts des trois différents groupes de personnes qui avaient des visions différentes et des agendas à remplir, à savoir: les ordres réguliers durant le XVIe siècle (Franciscains et Dominicains), les premiers philosophes de l'histoire au cours du XVIIIe siècle, et les penseurs, scientifiques, artistes et architectes impliqués dans la reconstruction nationale après la révolution mexicaine de 1910. Cette thèse contient une histoire de "l'idée" du Temple, révélant, entre autres choses, la façon dont les Mexicains contemporains ont construit leur identité et leurs moyens d'action. Les idées générales du "Grand Temple des Aztèques" médiatisées par différents points de vue,-comme le scientifique, ou celui du parti au pouvoir-, dit encore plus sur la politique ou sur l'état des domaines de la connaissance contemporaine que sur le temple ou sur les Aztèques eux mêmes. La lecture de ces différentes interprétations n'a pas l'intention de les discréditer, mais de soulever la question plus large de la complexité de l'auto-compréhension de l'homme. Le défi serait de lacher un peu la p

The Chicana/o borderlands have generated their own barroquismo which, having thrived on the fruits of a colonial Mexican heritage, intensified within the unique cultural climate of the Southwest US. As second-class citizens, Mexican-Americans have been excluded from the metanarratives of the nation. However, this position as outsiders has granted them a unique vantage point from which to see a multifaceted and contradictory reality. Living in the socio-cultural margins, a certain way of thinking emerged which allowed for contradictions, ambiguity, and plurality: essentially, a baroque way of thinking. This particular consciousness combined with a colonial baroque cultural foundation produced rasquachismo, a sensibility which mirrors the baroque in many ways. Operating on a constant interrelating of the baroque with Chicana/o thought and aesthetics, this dissertation will create points of suture so that the two may inform and enrich each other. All the works treated in this dissertation participate thoroughly in rasquache baroque sensibilities, citing baroque history and summoning the ghosts of the colonial past while generating inclusive structures, impure hybridities and juxtapositions, flamboyance, excess, bold transformations, and critical humour for the purpose of negotiating an adverse and complex reality and for culturally arming oneself against hegemony, in an attempt to ensure cultural survival and resistance. The first chapter, "Ana Castillo's Xicanista Baroque: Allegory, Hagiography, and the Supernatural in So Far from God," explores how this novel continues the colonial baroque traditions of allegory, hagiography, and miracles. The second chapter, "Robo-baroque: The Performances of Guillermo Gómez-Peña and his Pocha Nostra," investigates the colonial baroque legacy which saturates the performances of Guillermo Gómez-Peña and his performance group, La Pocha Nostra. This legacy is demonstrated by a layering of baroque conventions—allegory, hagiography, and the wünderkammer—, as well as by an intensely baroque spatial and temporal ordering which harnesses the powers of decentralization, pluralism, coextensive space, and seriality. The third chapter, "Amalia Mesa-Bains's Domesticana Baroque," looks at the installation works of Amalia Mesa-Bains, investigating how these installations use the conventions of the wünderkammer and vanitas along with the concepts of the mirror and the fold to speak of baroque knowledge systems, female and non-Western identities, and feminine interior spaces. Finally, the conclusion relates the works studied in this thesis and elaborates on the benefits of Chicana/o baroque thought. / Les frontières chicanas ont généré leurs propres barroquismos qui, ayant fait pousser les fruits de l'héritage colonial mexicain, se sont intensifiés dans le climat culturel unique du sud-ouest des États-Unis. En tant que citoyens de seconde classe, les Mexico-Américains ont été exclus des méta-récits de la nation. Cependant, cette position extérieure leur a accordé un point de vue unique, d'où l'on pouvait percevoir une réalité multiforme et contradictoire. De l'habitation des marges socio-culturelles, une certaine façon de penser a émergé, permettant la coexistence de contradictions, l'ambiguïté et la pluralité: une manière de penser essentiellement baroque. Cette thèse se base sur une constante interrelation du baroque avec la pensée et l'esthétique chicanas, créant des points de suture entre ces derniers de manière à ce qu'ils puissent s'éclairer et s'enrichir mutuellement.Toutes les œuvres traitées dans cette thèse participent profondément aux sensibilités baroque-rasquaches, en citant l'histoire baroque et en évoquant les fantômes du passé colonial tout en générant des structures inclusives, des hybridités impures et des juxtapositions, de la flamboyance, de l'excès, des transformations audacieuses, et un humour critique afin de négocier les termes d'une réalité complexe et défavorable et de s'armer culturellement contre l'hégémonie de manière à assurer la survie culturelle et la résistance.Le premier chapitre, "Ana Castillo's Xicanista Baroque: Allegory, Hagiography, and the Supernatural in So Far from God," explore la manière dont ce roman poursuit les traditions baroques coloniales de l'allégorie, de l'hagiographie, et des miracles. Le deuxième chapitre, "Robo-baroque: The Performances of Guillermo Gómez-Peña and his Pocha Nostra," examine les legs colonial-baroques qui saturent les performances de Guillermo Gómez-Peña et de son groupe de performance, La Pocha Nostra. Ce legs se traduit par une superposition de conventions baroques —l'allégorie, l'hagiographie, et le wünderkammer— ainsi que par une organisation spatiale et temporelle intensément baroque, qui exploite les pouvoirs de la décentralisation, du pluralisme, de l'espace coextensif et de la sérialité. Le troisième chapitre, "Amalia Mesa-Bains's Domesticana Baroque," se penche sur les œuvres d'installation d'Amalia Mesa-Bains, enquêtant sur la manière dont ces installations utilisent des conventions du wünderkammer et du vanitas, à travers les concepts du miroir et du pli, afin de parler des systèmes de connaissances baroques, des identités féminines non-occidentales et des espaces intérieurs féminins. Finalement, la conclusion relie les œuvres étudiées dans la thèse et explique les avantages de la pensée chicana-baroque.

<p> There is an increase in the number of children who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. However, significant racial and ethnic disparities exist in the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder. Based on the literature, Latino children appear to be under diagnosed or misdiagnosed with other psychological disorders rather than autism spectrum disorder. In addition, Latino children are typically diagnosed at a later age than their White peers. There is almost no research devoted to the assessment of autism spectrum disorder with young Latino children and there is insufficient research related to cultural perceptions of symptoms which can influence parental report. There is an increasing need to provide culturally appropriate Spanish language assessment to Latino children and their families. Therefore, this dissertation provides a critical review of those tests that are frequently cited in the literature or available in Spanish for use in the neuropsychological assessment of young Latino children suspected of having autism spectrum disorder within the following domains: Social Communication and Social Interaction; Speech, Language and Communication; Restricted, Repetitive Behaviors, Interests or Activities; Sensory Processing/Sensory Integration and; Developmental and Adaptive Functioning. Tests used to aid in the differential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and other emotional and behavioral disorders in Latino children are also included. A few select tools are recommended for use with this population to be used as a resource for those clinicians serving this population.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine the experiences of Latino/a university students who grew up interpreting and translating for their parents or still did. The sample consisted of 14 self-identified language brokers. The study focused on the stressors associated with language brokering, the parent child relationship, perceptions on how public facilities can help with the process of language brokering and the gifts or positive attributes gained due to their experiences. Participants shared various settings in which they language brokered. Stressors included challenges with terminology, having many demands, pressure and expectations from their parents, and having adult responsibilities. Language brokering was not perceived to negatively affect the parent-child relationship, and participants shared their views on how systems can help in providing efficient services for their limited English proficient parents. Participants mentioned various gifts/benefits gained, including fluency and ethnic identity. Implications for research and social work practice are discussed.</p>

<p> This grant proposal was developed to address the unique psychological needs of the undocumented Latino youth student population in California. This project involved the grant writer to partner with a nonprofit organization, and find a feasible funding source to implement a pilot project entitled the Wellness Project. A literature review was conducted in order to evaluate the mental health needs, reasons for the lack of mental health services and strategies to effectively address the issues of the target population. The Wellness Project will be held at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California to establish a psychological wellness program for undocumented young students interested in pursuing higher education in California. The goal of the program is to increase the psychological well-being of California's undocumented youth student population. The actual submission and or funding of the grant were not a requirement for the successful completion of this project.</p>

<p> The purpose of this project was to write a grant proposal to obtain funding for educational workshops. The workshops are about how to access community-based resources, navigate the service delivery systems and training on advocacy skills needed to access appropriate services. Targeted population will include 192 Latino parents and families of children with autism spectrum disorder or suspected developmental delays. The proposed program would be offered in the Family Resource Center at the Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic.</p><p> The educational workshops aim to increase the utilization of services of Latino parents who are economically disadvantaged and underserved, through the distribution of information of community resources available for the specific needs of their children. The actual submission and/or funding of this grant were not a requirement for the successful completion of this project. </p>

<p> The purpose of this project was to design a mentoring program, identify potential funding sources, and write a grant to fund a culturally sensitive mentoring program. This mentoring program targets Latino youth receiving child welfare services from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. This mentoring program aims at assisting foster youth avoid potential maladaptive outcomes by increasing their self-esteem, academic achievement and life skills. An extensive literature review increased awareness about the benefits of a mentoring program for at-risk youth. The Stuart Foundation was selected as the best funding sources to support this project. A grant proposal was then written to support a culturally sensitive mentoring program targeting Latino foster youth.</p>

<p> There are several theological works that address the issue of undocumented immigration. These ignore the theological concept of <i>metizaje</i>. In order to engage the phenomenon of undocumented immigration more effectively and to build an understanding concerning the ones who make the journey al norte, theology must use the resources available through the concept of <i> mestizaje</i>. It is a rich theological term that is described as the <i> locus theologicus</i> of the Hispanic or Latina/o community. However, the discussion on <i>mestizaje</i> has grown more and more complex so that it is a very slippery term that needs to be further expounded and expanded in order to be able to speak about and to the Hispanic or Latina/o peoples. For this reason, I propose the usage of the term <i>hibridez </i>. It is not a mere translation of the English, hybridity; rather, it is a term that moves us beyond simplistic notions of race, nationality, and ethnicity revealing the possibility of multiple embeddedness in identity. <i> Hibridez</i> addresses the most marginalized groups in Latin America, such as Amerindian and <i>zamba</i>/o peoples. It also addresses the plight of the immigrant, who along with the widow and orphan, compose the trilogy of the poor. Finally, it is a term that allows for the inclusion of an <i>evang&eacute;lic</i>@ perspective and a pneumatological analysis of the plight of the poor of Latin America who make their journey al norte.</p>

This dissertation explores the work of Colombian architect Rogelio Salmona (1927-2007) from an interpretive angle that privileges the ideas of place and poetic experience, seen as two essential aspects of the architect's métier. The dissertation looks at the experience and making—or generative processes—of Rogelio Salmona's places through the lenses of the poetics of imagination. To this purpose the thesis builds a framework in the parallel activity of poetry writing and reviews the concept of place from a phenomenological perspective. The case study is a mature urban public work by Rogelio Salmona, the "Humanities Building" on the UNAL campus in Bogotá Colombia (1995-2000). The building is the subject of an experiential narrative that alternates with critical comments and metaphoric connections to the history and traditions of world architecture: particularly those of the 20th Century modern movements. The thesis makes evident too, that Salmona's architecture—that I characterize as modernism 'without prejudices'—transcends the normative restrictions of his predecessor masters. Salmona's 'subversive modernism' shows ethic and poetic intentionality. The theoretical journey to the building (theoria) is followed by a dialogue with the architect on his central exploratory concerns which the Humanities Building reflects. The study concludes that the work of Salmona brings awareness about the possibilities of experiential re-creation as a poetic strategy for architectural invention. Rogelio Salmona poetically interpreted the historicity of site for the purpose of Place- Making and proposed places that 'speak' of a more than desirable, necessary, man-andworld reciprocity. / Cette dissertation explore l'oeuvre de l'architecte colombien Rogelio Salmona (1927- 2007) d'un regard interprétatif qui privilège les idées d'expérience poétique et de lieu, considérés comme deux aspects essentiels du métier d'architecte. La dissertation explore le façonnement et l'expérience des lieux de Salmona sous l'angle de la poétique de l'imaginaire, établissant ainsi des liens entre l'histoire de l'architecture et ses traditions. Dans ce dessein, la thèse construit un cadre théorique à travers l'activité parallèle à l'architecture qu'est l'écriture poétique et revisite le concept de lieu sous une perspective phénoménologique. L'étude de cas porte sur une oeuvre mature de Rogelio Salmona, un bâtiment public et urbain, le pavillon des sciences humaines d'UNAL, à Bogotá, capitale de la Colombie (1995-2000). L'expérience du bâtiment guide un narratif à travers lequel se tissent des commentaires critiques conjecturant sur l'histoire et les traditions de l'architecture, tout particulièrement les « mouvements modernes » du XX siècle. La thèse met par ailleurs en évidence que l'architecture de Salmona—que je qualifie de modernisme « sans préjudice »—transcende les restrictions normatives des maîtres qui l'ont précédé. Le « modernisme subversif » de Salmona se caractérise par ses intentions poétiques et éthiques. Le voyage théorique (theoria) est suivi d'un dialogue avec Rogelio Salmona portant sur ses préoccupations d'exploration desquelles le bâtiment des sciences humaines « parle ». Cette discussion conclut l'étude : Salmona nous fait prendre conscience des possibilités de re-création de l'expérience, celles-ci servant de stra