The Power of Community

Fifteen years ago, Concha Delgado-Gaitan began literacy research in Carpinteria, California. At that time, Mexican immigrants who laboured in nurseries, factories and housekeeping had almost no voice in how their children were educated. Committed to participative research, Delgado-Gaitan collaborated with the community to connect family, school and community. Regular community gatherings gave birth to the Comite de Padres Latinos. Refusing the role of victim, the Comite participants organized to reach out to everyone in the community, not just other Latino families. This is a critical work that shows how communities can pull together in the care of their children and ensure that they thrive academically, socially and personally.