Mapping Ecosystems: Building an Understanding of an Urban Network of Supports and Resources for Black and Latino/a Students

Abstract

Urban minoritized students often face a multitude of systemic challenges that play out in their statistical outcomes. Still, they are also surrounded by cultural, family, and community resources, supports, and funds of knowledge. In this manuscript, we present a methodology for a community-engaged process to urban educational ecosystems as a first step in promoting systems change. We describe the need consider systems, and then discuss our work in mapping the ecosystem of supports for Black and Latino/a students in Milwaukee. Our aim is to present an adaptable model for other scholars and findings from our own engagement with the process.