Abstract:
This microethnographic study examines critical literacy
and the lives of participants in an urban, non-profit
organization, the Opportunity Center, serving low income
youth and adults in the Seattle area. The Center's primary
mission was to provide alternative educational opportunities
for youth who have been unsuccessful in traditional school
settings. The Center also provided ESL classes to the
area's homeless Hispanic population and writing workshops
for the homeless. The Center sought to provide literacy and
general education for empowerment, meaning education which
would encourage learners to think about society, their
lives, and to enable them to shape their own destinies. The
three programs use a student-centered curriculum, and they
encourage student participation both at the classroom and
organizational levels.
The purpose of this research was twofold: to describe
how a critical literacy approach works and to describe the
lives and needs of participants in such a program by
exploring the social and psychological factors in the
educational process. Case studies are included to provide a
deeper understanding of the clients who use literacy
services.
