Adult Education as a Catalyst for Racial Equity
In recent times, discussions surrounding race have gained significant prominence within communities. Adult education is increasingly recognized as a powerful tool for fostering racial equity. This article explores the intersection of adult education and racial equity, highlighting the experiences of adult learners, the importance of addressing systemic barriers, and the role of collaborative initiatives in creating equitable pathways to education and economic mobility.
The Power of Dialogue and Shared Experiences
The World Education's Addressing Racial Equity in our Adult Education Classrooms, Programs, and the Field webinar series showcased the profound impact of open dialogues about race in educational settings. Attendees were deeply moved by the testimonials of students who shared their personal experiences with racism.
For immigrant students, these discussions provided a crucial opportunity to learn about and navigate racial dynamics in their new environment. One student noted, "As an immigrant, it helped us to be more careful and learn how to prevent some issues."
The series also highlighted the emotional toll of witnessing racial injustice. Dalsaint, an adult learner, expressed his shock and pain at seeing images of police brutality and anti-blackness in the media, which challenged his idealized perception of America. Recounting viewing footage of the detainment and assault of army Lt. Caron Nazario during a traffic stop, he stated, “… it’s unbelievable. I wonder [to] myself… that’s America?"
Despite the discomfort and difficulty of these conversations, Dalsaint emphasized their necessity: the importance of becoming educated on civil rights. He lauded his teacher, Riva Pearson, for providing guidance on how to handle difficult situations and understand their rights: “You give us some advice to handle those situations, some laws [about] how to deal with police officers, and let us know our rights."
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Discussions about race in the classroom became especially relevant in the wake of highly publicized incidents of racial injustice. As one teacher noted, “Several students had seen the video of George Floyd and were feeling a lot of fear and stress, and so I posted… this article from the Talking About Race issue of The Change Agent about healing from racism, and we’d read it before but it became much more personally relevant to them."
Taking Action: Activism and Civic Engagement
Beyond dialogue, adult education can empower individuals to take action against racial injustice. Dalsaint emphasized the importance of activism, including voting, as a means of creating change. He acknowledged the existence of barriers such as gerrymandering and voter suppression but stressed that voting remains a powerful tool: voting is still our “nuclear weapon.” He further noted that activism is one of the most important tools people have to address issues in an impactful way. He says, “I saw [on] tv last year people protesting around this country. It’s a great way to fight back but without violence. That’s the best strategy."
Addressing Systemic Barriers in Education
Adult learners, particularly adults of color, often face significant barriers to educational attainment and economic mobility. These barriers can include financial constraints, lack of access to transportation and childcare, and systemic inequities within educational institutions.
The traditional college-going experience was not designed with adult students of color in mind. Inequitable policies and practices, ranging from enrollment and placement processes to access to financial aid and student services, send an unintentional message to these students that they don’t belong and are not welcome in higher education.
The REACH Collaborative: Creating Equitable Pathways
The REACH Collaborative is an initiative focused on transforming credential pathways to associate degrees at community colleges to improve credential attainment and economic mobility for adult learners of color in six states. The REACH Collaborative leverages the collective experience of partners and state teams to smooth transitions for adult learners of color as they enter and navigate credential pathways seeking economic stability and career growth. This collaborative effort aims to address these challenges by creating pathways designed for Black, Hispanic, and Native American adults to earn quality credentials that lead to a degree.
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The REACH Collaborative is focused on creating pathways designed for Black, Hispanic, and Native American adults to earn quality credentials that lead to a degree. We work with states and community colleges to replace systems and beliefs that unfairly hold adult learners of color back from a better education and life with pathways, supports, and practices that celebrate and value their unique lived experiences.
Coordination of the REACH Collaborative is led by Education Strategy Group (ESG) in partnership with the Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL) at the University of Illinois with generous support from the Lumina Foundation. In collaboration with our learning partner, DVP-Praxis, the REACH Collaborative helps to build the capacity and tools for equitable system change and improved adult student outcomes.
A key component of the REACH Collaborative's approach is the development of non-degree credentials that can be stacked towards an associate degree. Too often, life gets in the way for adult students, forcing them to delay or abandon their studies altogether. On top of losing valuable time and money, they have nothing to show for their hard work. Non-degree credentials offered in a sequence that leads to an associate degree give students a clear path for making short-term gains while continuing to progress toward their ultimate goal.
The collaborative also emphasizes the importance of proactive, holistic support for adult learners of color. Many adult students of color are managing a delicate balancing act of life responsibilities - one that could collapse at any time. Whether the issue is loss of financial resources, transportation, or childcare, finding the right help when things fall apart becomes one more hurdle. Adult students of color need proactive, holistic support that starts addressing their needs in and out of the classroom before they ever step foot in one.
Designing for Equity: A Student-Centered Approach
In developing their pathways, REACH colleges are committed to planning every step of a student’s journey with a focus on racial equity.
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