Implications of Community Activism among Urban Minority Young People for Education for Engaged and Critical Citizenship

Nam, Chaebong

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/42583 Copy

Description

Title

Implications of Community Activism among Urban Minority Young People for Education for Engaged and Critical Citizenship

Author(s)

Nam, Chaebong

Issue Date

2012-10

Keyword(s)

• Community Activism
• Critical Citizenship
• Active Citizenship
• Urban Youth
• Citizenship Education

Abstract

Citizenship is fundamentally defined by praxis--i.e., engagement in local and diverse forms of civic practices--rather than by a legal status tied to the nation-state (Tully, 2008). This study examined the participatory democracy practices of a community activist group that was organizing to resist gentrification in a Puerto Rican community in Chicago in the U.S. In order to preserve their Puerto Rican community and build a grassroots democracy practice, the young activists involved themselves in a variety of community issues, ranging across political, socio-cultural, and educational domains. Noticeably, they worked to engage local youth in community events and in the process of production and distribution of local information. This helped the youth to learn about important community issues, as well as Puerto Rican history and culture, which had not been taught in local public schools. Such intergenerational and holistic educational activities not only produced new young leaders but in fact created a pipeline of community leadership. Their efforts present a useful educational model of engaged and critical citizenship, demonstrating the unique contributions of learning beyond the classroom.

Publisher

An Interactive Journal Sponsored by International Association of Educators (INASED)

ISSN

1554-5210

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/42583

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