For six years I was a participant-observer in the thoroughbred racing community in Chicago area tracks.  My official role was 'maestra' to the migrant backstretch workers. I moved with the workers seasonally from track to track.  During one season I lived on the backstretch and worked as a hotwalker in the barns to further immerse myself in the life and culture of the track.

I used qualitative research methods, ethnography, critical pedagogy, and community organizing to surface, document, understand, and address the needs of the migrant workers and families.  We created and grew year-round responsive and decolonizing educational and social programming and advocated for improvements regarding housing and working conditions. 

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This research was written up in my doctoral dissertation, "Kids Off Track: Writing Down the Backstretch".