Creating Change in the Central Valley: Examining One Master's Program's Impact on Diverse Communities

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 7
  In Roundtable Session: Community Stakeholders and University-Community Partnerships

Abstract

The Multilingual and Multicultural Education (MME) Program seeks to teach educators serving linguistically and culturally diverse (LCD) K-12 students in Central California. To understand the MME’s impact a survey was distributed and taken by 15 former students (i.e. 60% participation rate). Three key areas of focus; career changes, engagement in extracurricular opportunities, and use of pedagogy and service to LCD students, were examined. Results indicate that teaching was the most numerous profession among entering and post-completion students, 73% of MME alumni engaged in leadership or professional opportunities post-graduation, and 90% of students believed the program was impactful in providing pedagogical understanding and service to LCD students. Implications include the creation of community change agents in rural settings

Authors

• Jessica Miguel, University of California - San Diego

• Teresa M. Huerta, California State University - Fresno