Empowering and Inspiring Students to Write Critically Through a Free Community Youth Writing Workshop

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 22
  In Roundtable Session: Policies in the Classroom

Abstract

Barrio Writers, a free summer writing workshop for underserved/underrepresented youth, creates opportunities for youth to engage in culturally responsive academic experiences on university campuses, for university faculty and students to create and experience powerful learning communities, and for communities to hear the voices and experiences of their youth. The purpose of this research was to investigate the research question, “What are some of the ways in which the Barrio Writers workshop allows youth to experience an alternative learning environment?” Initial findings, based on data collected and analyzed from several qualitative data sources, suggest that the power of Barrio Writers is in its transformative curriculum that challenges the traditional power dynamics in the classroom.

Authors

• Heather K. Olson Beal, Stephen F. Austin State University

• Chrissy J Cross, Stephen F. Austin State University

• Lauren E Burrow, Stephen F. Austin State University