Hope Community Center

Below are some images from the classes that I taught at HCC, including reflections from students in Rhetoric and Civic Engagement course who also helped in the classes as part of their service learning project for the course. All images and quotes posted with permission.

UCF student, Paige and HCC student, Roberta sit and try to find out who Roberta's House representative is. Paige is looking at her phone, while Roberta tells Paige her address.

Paige y Roberta: “As a student volunteer who is a native English speaker, I feel self-conscious when trying to speak Spanish. Hope CommUnity’s citizenship classes foster reciprocal relationships between people who aren’t fluent in the same languages by creating a space where the playing field is level for all members to exchange knowledge. It’s been a new & enjoyable experience for me to participate in an educational environment that so efficiently adapts to the needs of its learners. Language barriers don’t impede communication; instead they force us to adjust our conceptions about how meaning is created and conveyed.” –Paige

HCC students, Silvino and Edgar review their work during break.

Silvino y Edgar

UCF student Charlene and HCC student Rubén joke during break time.

Charlene y Rubén: “Hope CommUnity Center promotes advocacy through community. People of very diverse cultures come together in a classroom to learn and grow. Even though I only speak English, I was still welcomed into all aspects of the class and I never felt left out. At Hope CommUnity Center native mexican, portugese, spanish, and many other speakers all practice bilingualism as they actively engage in learning English and information about the United States government and history. The love and passion for learning exhibited in the classrooms at Hope is nothing like I have ever seen before in my fifteen years of schooling.”–Charlene

UCF student, Ricky, sits with HCC students, Rubén and Albeiro. They have finished their activity and are looking at the camera. Ricky is giving a thumbs up to the camera.

Ricky, Rubén, y Albeiro

HCC students Luz María and María Paz show us their drawings of the "branches of government."

Luz María y María Paz show us their drawings of the “branches of government.” #educaciónpopular #populareducation

This is a photo of UCF student Esther and HCC student María Paz working from our wowkbook. Esther wears black glasses and has long, curly hair. María Paz wears black glasses and has short hair.

Esther y María Paz: “I enjoy volunteering at HCC’s Citizenship classes because there is no hierarchy. Everyone works together as a team to help one another out, whether it’s the students in the classes practicing their English or me practicing my Spanish. I enjoy one-on-one time with the groups. I come from a Latin family, so going to HCC it feels like I am back home.” –Esther