Through ESCALA’s Culturally Responsive Facilitation program, I’ve gained a new framework for understanding how structure itself can be an equity tool. I now recognize that creating equitable dialogue isn’t about control— it’s about establishing clarity, predictability, and trust so that all voices can be heard. I learned how to set a container for critical dialogue, use equity protocols that balance participation, and help move groups from tension to alignment.
Participant in Culturally Responsive Facilitation, 2025
I used to think that altering my teaching practices would be disruptive and risky—that students might resist, and that my efforts might fail. But now I believe that small, thoughtful changes... can generate synergistic effects. [After ESCALA CTL] students feel more supported, I feel more energized, and inequities in grades and retention are beginning to decrease.
Computer Science faculty member, 2025 ESCALA's Certificate in College Teaching & Learning course
Something new I learned in the PCS program is the length and breadth of Latinx activism in educational equity. This was the first time I had heard about these legal cases and many aligned with my family's own history in the US. I've always thought of my family's educational journey as something unique, but I now recognize it's part of a larger narrative and history, which is very empowering.
Faculty Counselor, 2023, Practitioner
Conocimientos Series
