Marcos Ruiz Rojas | July 29, 2024

UCLA labor studies lecturer and oral historian Virginia Espino, along with four passionate undergraduate students, showcased their research projects at the Southwest Oral History Association (SOHA) Conference, held from May 31 to June 3 at the University of California  Riverside.

For the last six years, Espino’s winter course “Oral History for Social Change” has empowered students to build a more just world by identifying and challenging various oppressive forces that limit freedom. 

Among Espino’s students, Carolina Sarabia Garcia and Olha Shytets demonstrated how oral history can drive social change by preserving the past and shaping a future where collective memory and resistance are pivotal.

“The SOHA conference themes of memory, resistance and radical futures aligned perfectly with the work my students have been engaged in,” Espino said. “Our panel, titled ‘If Our Words Could Change the World: Oral History and Social Justice,’ highlighted how oral history can be used to expose issues, celebrate resilience and point a way forward.”

Explore this year’s student research projects by reviewing the research abstracts below.

Carolina Sarabia Garcia ‘25, majoring in labor studies

Research Title: Experiences of an Undocumented Student Beyond Academia

Sarabia Garcia interviewed Karely Amaya Rios, a recent undocumented, first-generation UCLA graduate and lead organizer of the Opportunity for All Campaign. Her research explores Rios’ experiences beyond academia, focusing on how undocumented individuals navigate freedom and opportunities.

Key Findings:

• Community Building: Rios emphasized the importance of building connections with people who share similar identities, experiences, and struggles.
• Existence as Resistance: Rios described overcoming challenges and breaking barriers as forms of resistance.
• Mental Health Awareness: The research highlighted the importance of mental health resources in coping with academic and social pressures, stressing that support should be accessible to all.

Learn more here.

Olha Shytets earned a history degree in ‘24

Research Title: Against Erasure: The Meaning of Ukrainian Sovereignty

Shytets conducted an oral history interview with Maria Billa, a prominent figure in the Ukrainian diaspora in Chicago and Los Angeles. Billa’s narrative spans her escape from Ukraine during the German and Soviet occupations of the 1940s and her survival in multiple German camps during World War II before immigrating to the United States.

Key Findings:

• Billa’s oral history underscores the resilience of Ukrainian culture and sovereignty despite centuries of adversity, including genocide and ongoing geopolitical challenges.
• She draws parallels between her experiences and the current conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing the diaspora’s role in international conflicts and the importance of preserving accurate historical narratives.

Learn more here.

Espino thinks it’s important to attend academic conferences with students as a professor. 

“Conferences are wonderful spaces to meet people with similar interests, learn from experts in the field and share your own research for helpful feedback. Many labor studies students contemplate attending graduate school, so introducing them to an academic conference can help demystify it for them,” she said. “Attending a conference with your professor can give students the confidence they might not have to speak in front of a large audience.”

Espino will be teaching LBR STD 182 “Oral History for Social Change”, during winter 2025. More information will be available via our “Course Offerings” page.

UCLA Labor Studies is the first major of its kind at the University of California. Renowned for its commitment to engaged student learning in community worker settings, rigorous hands-on research and courses that explore some of the most pressing labor and social justice issues, the program became a major in 2019 after being established as a minor in 2014.