Central America Week Events

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2022 Events


Indigenous Central America Educator Workshop

Wednesday, November 9, 2022, 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM EST

Many students in U.S. classrooms can trace their roots to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, as well as other Central American countries, yet the history of the region is largely absent from U.S. curriculum. There is even less regional-specific content focused on Central America’s rich and centuries-old Indigenous cultures, such as the Mayans.

This interactive, online session will provide teachers with strategies and resources for introducing the Indigenous history of Central America in their classroom. Participants will explore the Quiche Maya ancestral story including the Popol Vuh and the Maya origin story, which highlights the importance of corn and nature to the Maya. They will also learn about the Garifuna and other Indigenous communities throughout Central America. Connections will be made to Indigenous communities and the challenges they face today. Facilitated by Jonathan Peraza Campos, middle school teacher and Teach Central America program specialist with Teaching for Change. Workshop recommended for grade K-12 educators.

Professional development certificate available for educators upon request.


LA MANPLESA: An Uprising Remembered

Documentary Film Streaming NOW

On May 5, 1991, people took to the streets of Washington, D.C.’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood to protest the police shooting of a young Salvadoran man, Daniel Gomez. Through testimony, song, poetry, and street theater, this film weaves together the collective memory of one of D.C.’s first barrios and dives into the roots of the '91 rebellion. Streaming on PBS, America Reframed.


Past Teach Central America
Related Professional Development


Tejiéndonos en Náhuat

Facebook Live Event, October 7, 7:00 PM ET

A Spanish language event about the revitalization of the Náhuat language in El Salvador hosted by Casa de la Cultura El Salvador as a Facebook Live event.


Indigenous Peoples’ Day Curriculum Teach-In

October 1 | 12: 00 PM - 3:00 PM ET ( 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM PT)

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and Teaching for Change hosted an online teach-in with a series of workshops and keynote speaker, Rebecca Nagle.

Workshop on Indigenous Central America

Teaching Central America program specialist Jonathan Peraza Campos led a workshop that provided teachers with strategies and resources for introducing the Quiche Maya ancestral story in their classrooms. Participants explored the Popol Vuh, the Maya origin story, which highlights the importance of corn and nature to the Maya and other Indigenous communities throughout Central America. Connections were made to Indigenous communities and the challenges they face today.