Sustaining Generational Knowledge: Undocumented Student Organizing at a Community College Over 15 Years

• In Event: Rethinking and Reimagining Inclusive Practices in Community Colleges and Development Education

Abstract

This case study explores how undocumented students from 2005 to 2021 organized for the development of equitable programs and policies at a community college. Drawing on theories about counter-spaces (Solórzano, Ceja, and Yosso, 2000), this study discusses how students with the support of key staff created a counter-space on campus that is meant to be a safe space for undocumented students to find resources and community. Findings show how student organizers maintained a sense of momentum over time, the challenges they faced from staff and student government on campus, and how a strong community of student organizers impacted students’ sense of purpose and well-being.

Author

• Rachel Freeman-Wong, University of California - Los Angeles