Empowering Marginalized Youth Through Leadership

Dafne Melgar

Your backgroundFirst college generationNon-traditional student/underrepresented studentMarginalized from college information due to low GPA and social skills.Being a tutor at a continuation education High School I connected with the students because we share a similar background.

Why is this importantUnderrepresented students have been negatively profiled according to their GPAMale go for the military servicesFemales go for private colleges as the only way out from povertyFirst generation students. Have no specific college guidanceThey are isolated from college preparation

(The Psychology of Teaching and Structures of Information for Human Learning by Patrick Velasquez)

Research questionHow can an underrepresented student change his/her college perspective by implementing a college preparation program in their curriculum? In addition to academics, how important is it for an underrepresented student to learn about self-advocacy and self-empowerment?

Host location: Continuing Education

High School

Students that are recommended to Continuing education are those who are credit deficient, attend irregularly and are habitual truants, are pregnant or parenting, need flexible school schedules to accommodate a need to work, or have social and emotional adjustment issues.

(sandi.net)

High Risk Students Profile

 Feel they do not “belong” at school; Exhibit disruptive behavior and rebellious attitudes; Are below expected grade level for their age;Exhibit language difficulties; Are gifted or talented and perhaps bored with school;Have poor home–school communications;Are frequently absent or tardy;Request frequent health referrals; Are invisible dropouts (present in body but not in mind);Are parents; or have difficulty relating to authority figures or structured situations. Have low achievements test scores

Courtesy of Mentoring Partnership of Long Island, The ABC’s of Mentoring, and the HISD Mentoring Program Mentor Handbook.

LiteratureHope Required When Growing Roses in Concrete, by Jeffrey M.R Duncan AndradeMaslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, by Saul McLeodReconceptualizing Success for Underserved Students in Higher Education, by Laura I. Rendón.Youth in a suspect Society by Henry A. GirouxThe Psychology of Teaching and Structures of Information for Human Learning, by Patrick Velasquez

The Leadership program

Based on the nature of the educational system, research, and student information, I created a leadership program where students can challenge themselves to develop at their own rate high academic and social skills.

Weekly group meetingsOne on one interviews

Pro active field trips to community college Event at the park with family, friends and mentors

The programdemographics

13 students: 97% Latinos 2% white 1% Asian10 males 3 females98 % First U.S generation Juniors and Seniors.

Pre-survey : What is your biggest fear? What is your future dream? Post-survey: same survey but with an additional question What have you learned?Field notes to record student’s testimonials: Interviews one on one: Personal interest, goals and challenges

Methodology

Survey

“Maslow (1943) stated that people are motivated to achieve certain needs. When one need is fulfilled a person seeks to fulfill the next one, and so on” (simplypsychology.org)

The Cycle of Socialization - How our surroundings define our personalities, and our “norms” affect our decisions, actions, and the people we turn out to be. (library.wisc.edu/EDVRC/docs/public/pdfs)

FindingsWhat the students’ survey say: The survey shows that 98% of the students are afraid to fail in life, but only 30% have future plans. In the interviews about 85-90% are afraid of college expenses rather than academic challenges.At the beginning they were shy and quiet . They have become inquisitive and very active.

Conclusions and Implications

Students are motivated to learn They want to be included in a college system preparationThey are confident/ inquisitive The program might continue during the summerReinforce what they have learned and implement fundraising activities to create a scholarship fundAny person can motivate a student regardless of the student’s academic and social skills

Guest Speakers

Testimonials

Testimonials

We are Leaders