Narratives of Transformation: Understanding the Journey from Gang Involvement to Higher Education

• In Event: Justice Impacted Students and Higher Education

Abstract

There is a growing body of research that documents active and inactive gang-involved individuals' social, economic, and educational change aspirations. Much of this scholarship across the US and Europe signals how active and inactive gang members can discuss an educational credential's transformative power to open new possibilities. This qualitative study uses self-authorship theory to explain how 20 former/inactive Latino/x gang members reference critical moments that shaped their identity and beliefs for change. They also leveraged social relationships to achieve change to enroll, persist, and graduate with college degrees. Drawing from two-part life histories, this study helps document when former/inactive gang members decided to disengage from gang life, commit to postsecondary education, and how they negotiated the various facets of their social, academic, and familial commitments to become successful in higher education and eventually earn college degrees.

Authors

• Adrian H. Huerta, University of Southern California

• Edgar F. Lopez, University of Southern California

• Lauren M. Badajos, University of Arizona

• Leila Carranza, University of Southern California

• Jose Bermejo, University of Southern California

• Gladys Bautista, University of Southern California

• David Moore, University of Southern California