Developing Local Literacies with Middle and High School Refugee Youth: An Asset Inventory of the Refugee Development Center’s 2017 Summer Camp GLOBE Program

• In Event: Pro Bono Education Research Service Projects (ERSPs): AERA's ERSP Initiative

Abstract

Each year, nearly 600 refugees settle in Lansing, Michigan, which is home to roughly 20,000 refugees of diverse language and ethnic groups. Refugee youth, in particular, are faced with many challenges; to successfully transition into U.S. schools, these students need to learn English while quickly adapting to the local community and culture. Schools alone cannot provide the support needed to ensure refugee youth’s success. Nonprofit organizations, such as the Refugee Development Center (RDC), are vital to refugee youth resettlement. The RDC sponsors many programs, including a five-week summer school, but has not had the time or resources to systematically evaluate the strengths and needs of their summer program, specifically how it supports immigrant youths’ literacy and language development. With this project, the research team will collaborate with the RDC to conduct a needs assessment. This assessment will enable the MSU research team to build their knowledge of the RDC’s summer school program, as well as the broader refugee community, and establish a foundation for a long-term, reciprocal research-practice partnership. This study will also benefit out-of-school programs more generally, which rely upon volunteers to provide out-of-school learning experiences that support immigrant youth in their social-emotional well-being, language development, and academic achievement.

Authors

• Carrie Symons, Michigan State University

• Christina M. Ponzio, Michigan State University