Toward Justice: Latina/o Counterstories of Youth and Families in a Court Diversion Program

• In Event: 65.046 - Language as an Act of Critical Education

Abstract

The study explores participants in a court diversion program. The program works to reengage Latin@ youth back into the educational system. The study include 30 interviews with youth participants, parents, program staff, and other stakeholders. The research uses interviews as a qualitative methods with Critical Race Theory and Latino Critical Theory theoretical frameworks. The research questions guiding this research are (1) How is “success” defined in the Esperanza program? (2) What counterstories do Esperanza participants and their parents present? The results from the research focus on counterstories by youth and parents about their experience with the program. This research is important as it addresses how to engage Latin@ youth and families back into the educational system.

Author

• Gerardo Mancilla, University of Wisconsin - Madison