In Their Own Words: The Experiences of Black and Latinx Youth in Culturally Relevant Programming

This study aims to learn from and with students of color to understand the influence of culturally relevant programming. Grounded in conceptions of counter-narrative and culturally relevant education (CRE), we center the voices and perspectives of Black and Latinx male adolescents to explore the impact of CRE-related programs and practices. Drawing on 10 focus groups with 37 students in urban schools, we illustrate how integrating community-based mentoring, critical conversations, and family-based relationships positively shaped students’ high school experiences. These findings contribute to growing empirical work on the benefits of CRE, while pushing for holistic efforts that extend beyond the classroom.