"iEngage" Freedom School: Affirming Community Cultural Wealth Through Advocacy and Action

• In Event: 41.045 - Educator Activism to Challenge Inequality and Construct Just Schools

Abstract

This study presents a unique educational partnership combining the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools Program with a concentrated iteration of civic education via iEngage Action Civics in order to provide an opportunity for a localized curriculum that featured specificity to the urban community demographic. Participants were asked to discuss community issues that plagued them and then, after learning and rediscovering citizenship and civil rights, students developed advocacy campaigns. Findings affirm Yosso’s (2005) Community Cultural Wealth model because participants were deeply empowered to become active and informed citizens. By spending time immersed in learning civic principles and engaging in civic activities, students gained valuable content knowledge and were also able to apply information to real world civic issues.

Authors

• Karon Nicol LeCompte, Baylor University

• Lakia M Scott, Baylor University

• Brooke Blevins, Baylor University