City of Wind, City of Fire: Youth Activism and Curricular Formations in Chicago 1966–1977

• In Event: Millennium Hotel Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: #RiseUp: Youth Activism and Curriculum-Making

Abstract

This paper emphasizes the contributions of activism and political education occurring from 1966-1975 driving the political awareness and action of youth in Chicago. We draw on mobilization efforts, and the alternative educational vehicles expressed in the Communiversity of the SouthSide and The Young Lords Organization (ChYLO) of the NorthSide. These alternative formations developed to address deficiencies identified in educational institutions and to aid urban youth in combating the post-industrial, socio-political and economic challenges of Chicago communities. The purpose of this paper is to highlight ChYLO and Communiversity’s alternative educational vehicles that we define as a curricular project.

Authors

• Erica R. Davila, Lewis University

• Richard D. Benson, Spelman College

• Ann M. Aviles, University of Delaware