A Case Study of Critical Program Development With Migrant Students

• In Event: 61.048 - Reframing That Opens Space for Social Justice Leadership

Abstract

Within institutions, advocates face tremendous obstacles in attempting to represent migrant student’s academic interests and dreams. Based on review of the literature, leadership for social justice is curtailed by: (a) historical structuration of institutions that perpetuate race and class oppression and (b) normalization of instrumental, bureaucratic, and deficit planning models. Using Migrant Student Leadership Institute (MSLI) as a case study, we articulate dimensions of a Critical and Culturally Relevant Program Development (CCRPD) framework; identifying community and student empowerment, cultural relevancy, critical consciousness, and historical analysis as fundamental values. The study highlights ways each value is manifest in MSLI program design and implementation. Implications for rethinking dominant program designs are delineated, arguing for moving beyond advocates as administrators, to advocates-as-critical educators.

Authors

• Eugene Fujimoto, California State University - Fullerton

• Maria Veronica Oropeza Fujimoto, California State University - Los Angeles

• Miguel Zavala, Chapman University