Abstract
Schools and community-based organizations are under severe attack through
bureaucratic regulations and financial cutbacks. Whereas teachers deliberate
about how to teach to state-mandated tests, community educators are often
concerned with meeting quotas and yielding measurable outcomes for their
funders. In both situations, countless people succeed despite the challenges.
And, even with all of the crises, some at-risk and high-risk youth excel.
Educators working within and beyond the walls of schools deal intimately
with today’s youth and form an important bridge in their development.
Moreover, the nontraditional community-based settings provide new insights
into pedagogical principles and can offer fresh approaches for anyone working
with marginalized youth.