Transforming the Lives of Immigrant Families Through Sustained Advocacy: A Case Study of One Community Nonprofit Organization in North Carolina

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: Family and Community Orientations to Language

Abstract

This study presents data from a longitudinal study conducted within one urban community based grassroots organization in the U.S. southeast. This paper highlights the sustained multi-year efforts of Connections to support 150 immigrant students in their navigation of language, culture and school within an anti-immigrant and highly racialized and historically Black and White urban context. This project explores how one community organization uses a social justice framework to guide their work to create innovative curriculum and instruction for participants. We draw on the rich qualitative data collected from students and their families to showcase how the organization spoke back to the way in which the dominant, pervasive stereotypes have worked to silence these marginalized immigrant groups.

Authors

• Lan Quach Kolano, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Sil Ganzó, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Anna Sanczyk, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Leslie Clement Gutierrez, Johnson C. Smith University