Subira Popenoe

October 23, 2015

The Power of Community

Imagine showing up to your workplace one day, only to find the police are there to confiscate all the computers. How were we supposed to get them back? As an intern with the community organization Podcasts for Peace, I witnessed the challenges faced by a low-income neighborhood in Managua, Nicaragua. I worked primarily with youth, teaching after-school classes and enriching their reading and math skills. At the same time, I learned how to form cross-cultural relationships, work as a team, and adapt to any scenario. As an outsider living and working in this community, my everyday learning experiences led me to consider new questions, such as: How can community members be mobilized and empowered to create positive change? What role does formal and informal education play? My talk will explore all this and more, including what happened to the laptops.