From Troublemakers to Pobrecitos: Honoring the Complexities of Survivorship of Latino Youth in a Suburban High School

Despite the recognition to improve the schooling experiences of Latino youth, they continue to be targets of control. While much of the research on Latino youth takes place in urban schools, this qualitative, interview-based study examines the experiences of three Latino youth who attend a suburban high school in the Midwest. Latino youth in suburbia are not only subject to disciplinary measures that fuel their disconnection with school but must also wrestle with being told that they are not taking advantage of their school’s resources. This different sort of policing around resources problematically holds Latino youth accountable for their supposed “shortcomings.” This project considers what Latino youth’s experiences can teach schools about how to enact asset-driven responses that empower rather than marginalize them.