The Butterfly Effect: Liberation and Transformation Through Cultural Education

• In Event: Millennium Hotel Roundtable Session 11
  In Roundtable Session: Paulo Freire, Critical Pedagogy, and Emancipation Roundtable

Abstract

In the spring of 2007 in Golden Coast, California there were a few incidents involving underage Latinos that led local law enforcement and media outlets to describe the series of events as a sign of increased local criminal gang activity; despite reports to the contrary, including news reports where senior law enforcement officials were quoted as describing a decrease in criminal activity. This paper focuses on research collected from a longitudinal ethnographic study, spanning over 5 years; focused on a group of 8 youth participants’ from the intervention program. Participant’s experiences and perspectives on gangs, policing, schooling, and the gang intervention worker were examined.  This research also notes the importance that “culture” played to the youth’s engagement in the program.

Authors

• Mario Gerardo Galicia, University of California - Santa Barbara

• Victor M. Rios, University of California - Santa Barbara