Critical Discourse as a Transformative Tool for Latino Youth Participants of a Gang Intervention Program

• In Event: 29.090 - Roundtable Session 9
  In Roundtable Session: 29.090-14 - Blackboard Jungle in the 21st Century: Transforming Schools With Marginalized Youth

Abstract

Capturing the everyday narratives of the Latino youth participants of a gang and violence intervention is important to assist their development. I believe that there are instructors that incorporate the teachings of Paolo Freire by incorporating critical pedagogy at the core of their classroom; by creating educational programs; offering the youth a space in their schools where the students can initiate the empowering process for themselves through education, while connecting students with their respective culture/s in the classroom (Freire, 1979). “There is still hope for youth who grow up street socialized in such economically-deprived circumstances. Gang and non-gang youth who grow up in (hyper) segregated neighborhoods need the opportunity to become productive 21st century citizens…” (Concha’s & Vigil, 2012).

Authors

• Mario Gerardo Galicia, University of California - Santa Barbara

• Victor Rios, University of California - Santa Barbara