California State University – Long Beach, Long Beach, California
Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
Universidad Intercultural Maya de Quintana Roo, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Linking Latino Health and Culture in the Contemporary Yucatán Peninsula: Ye’etel Maaya’aj Paakat (with a Mayan vision)
Through the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund grant, California State University, Long Beach’s partnered to establish a study abroad program in the Yucatan Peninsula. This partnership involved collaboration with Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (UADY), Kaxil Kiuic, Fundación de las Haciendas del Mundo Maya, and Universidad Intercultural Maya de Quintana Roo (UIMQRoo). The program aimed to increase student understanding of Mayan tradition, health and cultural issues in contemporary Mexico. In this way, students learn about contemporary health issues while gaining a comprehensive understanding of the history of the Yucatan and Mayan culture. Through the program, students visited the X’ka’an Sajil Mayan Botanical and Medicial Garden in Acanceh. In addition, community midwives (parteras) and health workers (promotores de salud) participated in the student learning experience. The goal of the partnership is to repeat the study abroad experience offered through the health course yearly.