Community Engagement Manager, Albemarle County Public Schools, Creciendo Juntos Part of the Youth-Nex Conference: Youth of Color Matter: Reducing Inequalities Through Positive Youth Development #YoCM15 Panel - 2 "An Immigrant Paradox? Civic Engagement Among Immigrant & Undocumented Youth" 
Undocumented and immigrant youth, particularly those from Hispanic/Latino backgrounds, face persistent marginalization in the United States, yet many of these same youth are actively engaged in their communities. Panelists will share their views on what engagement looks like, the challenges involved, and what we can do to support the civic engagement of undocumented and immigrant youth.

1. Relationship-Building: The Corner Stone
VALUING COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES ON
POLICY AND ACTIONS
Gloria M. Rockhold, MEd
Community Programs Manager, ACPS
Creciendo Juntos Chair

2. How do you know what
others don’t know?
Barriers
◦ Structural
◦ School system expectations
◦ Classroom culture of learning
◦ Expectation of competency
◦ Cycle of poverty
◦ Cultural
◦ Students peer groups
◦ Family belief systems and traditions

3. Policy and Action
Family Engagement is a priority in policy at the federal, state level and local level.
What happens when this policy filters through layers of bureaucracy…
Many marginalized families find themselves are locked out of possibilities.

4. Building Relationships:
knowledge as a barrier
◦ Building capacity of with family members
◦ School community
◦ School expectations
◦ Higher ed.
◦ Principles of citizenship
◦ Cultural competency
◦ Unwritten rules
◦ Social capital
◦ Cultural capital

5. Engagement begins w Familias
 Latino families knowledge of civic engagement
 Youth and the struggle for identity – pulls of loyalty
 Feelings of Entitlement
 Transmission of cultural values
 Cultural influences