Culturally Responsive Teaching Through the Arts: Building Community in the Classroom

Flavia Zuñiga-West is a Los Angeles based art educator, and artist. She graduated from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a B.F.A. in Drawing and Painting and earned a Master’s degree from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in the Museum Studies Program at New York University. She currently works in the Visual Arts Department at Harvard-Westlake Middle School. Flavia is an arts educator, curator, professional development facilitator and founder of the nationally renowned Adding Voices Conference and Symposiums. Flavia specializes in culturally responsive curriculum development that utilizes critical multiculturalism pedagogy, Black and Chicana feminist theory, and anti-racist frameworks in order to reframe the art historical canon by centering contemporary BIPOC artists in her work and the work she does with students. Additionally, Flavia offers professional development opportunities for art teachers, museum educators, community arts instructors, and teaching artists through regional and district workshops, webinars, and keynote engagements.