Cultural Competence Development, Critical Service-Learning, and Latina/o Youth Empowerment: A Qualitative Case Study

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session I
  In Interactive Paper Session: Ethnicity and Race in Communication Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

As more and more universities create service-learning programs to engage students with the community, educators are still experimenting with pedagogical approaches and practices to enhance learning outcomes while benefiting the communities they serve. In this paper, we present a qualitative case study of a service-learning program that aimed to enable media and journalism undergraduate students to enhance their cultural competence and sense of citizenship while simultaneously empowering working-class high school Latina/o students. We discuss the program’s conceptualization as a social justice empowerment effort grounded in Paulo Freire’s critical pedagogy. We address the challenges of creating and sustaining the program, and focus on its value for both undergraduates and Latina/o high-school students. We also discuss lessons learned and practical implications for other service-learning programs.

Authors

• Lucila Vargas, U of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

• Joseph Erba, University of Kansas