Be the Change

This book examines the ways young people engage in action, dialogue, and activism, and how they become global citizens. The essays in the book illustrate how young people with deep convictions on how to change the world make a difference in their communities. The community becomes the classroom, and their activism the true lesson. Possible "utopias" are realized with every effort to engage in activism, to be an advocate for both oneself and others, and with each critical engagement with oppression. These young activists are the unsung heroes and theirs are the victories in current educational debates. Moving away from theoretical debates on multicultural and progressive education, this book illustrates how youth action, curriculum strategies and creative writing, service learning projects, advocacy work at community-based and grassroots organizations, and global initiatives can result in real-life victories.

"At a time when teachers are the scapegoats for all that is wrong with education, Rita Verma and colleagues push back by illuminating the critical and creative roles that teachers and youth are playing to make education impactful. The examples in this book model the possibilities for anti-oppressive activism through education, and inspire." ùKevin Kumashiro, author of The Seduction of Common Sense: How the Right has Framed the Debate on America's Schools

Rita Verma is Assistant Professor in Social Studies Education at Adelphi University and received her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in curriculum and instruction. She is the author of Backlash: South Asian Immigrant Voices on the Margins, Her work is featured in numerous books and journals. Dr. Verma collaborates with the United Nations and various human rights organizations to engage educators from around the world in dialogue about human rights and global citizenship education, activism, and social justice