Grassroots Pedagogy: Practicing Justice in Collaborative Classrooms

Abstract

Abstract Most universities champion “community engagement” and “inclusion” as core values of their institutions. But what does it mean to meaningfully engage with communities, or to foster more inclusive learning environments? I address this question by reviewing my experiences co-teaching with communities and detailing the challenges I have encountered – building relationships, managing time constraints, and negotiating participants’ divergent expectations. I develop the concept of grassroots pedagogy, which argues that teaching grounded in radical honesty and social justice upends traditional notions of expertise, strengthens higher education’s commitment to service, and promotes a culture of democracy. Highlighting the voices of people who have historically been excluded from higher education may create more engaged and inclusive institutions, in turn helping universities live up to the values they profess.