“So, It’s Always Like the Grandmas Always Teach the Younger Ones”: How Arts-Based Family Engagement Activities Foster Cultural Identity

This qualitative multi-case study examined how culturally relevant and sustaining arts-based learning activities can profoundly impact students’ and families’ cultural and personal identity. Thirteen participants, made up of students and parents at a San Antonio elementary school, reflected on participating in the school’s monthly cafecitos and quarterly convivios. Using Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth as the theoretical framework, researchers found that, through the creation of art, children and families expressed new cultural insights and connections, deeper cultural roots, and a stronger sense of belonging. The study’s findings demonstrate the important role art can play in the journey of personal identity.