Hope Against Hope: Dialoguing Through Critical Poetic Inquiry With Adolescents From Under-Resourced Communities

Crystal Chen Lee, EdD, is an associate professor of English Education in the Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences at North Carolina State University. Her research lies at the nexus of teacher education, literacy, community engagement, and underserved youth including immigrant and refugee youth. Crystal is the founder and director of the Literacy and Community Initiative, a university–community partnership that amplifies student voices through student publication, advocacy, and leadership. She received her doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her recent publications can be found in European Journal of Teacher Education, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, and Language Arts.

Jennifer C. Mann, PhD, is a Research Scientist at Duke University’s Center for Child and Family Policy in the Sanford School of Public Policy. She is also an Adjunct for Duke’s Program in Education. In 2023, she received her PhD in Teacher Education and Learning Sciences from North Carolina State University. Dr. Mann has been an educator/teacher educator for 17 years, having taught high school English, elementary and adult English as a Second Language, and undergraduate & graduate pre-service teachers. Her research interests include education for multilingual learners, culturally sustaining critical pedagogies, and the social-emotional well-being of marginalized students.

Lonnie D. Manns, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow at North Carolina State University, where he investigates teacher knowledge, beliefs, and mindsets related to racial equity. He earned his PhD in Teacher Education and Learning Sciences from North Carolina State University in 2023. Dr. Manns is the founder of MECO, a nonprofit organization committed to offering social engagement and educational opportunities for families with autistic youth. His research interests include autism, pursuing the voices and perspectives of autistic youth, inclusion, and tackling historical educational inequities and disparities.

Ja’Bria Barber, PhD, is the Director of Music Therapy and Assistant Professor of Music Therapy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Ja’Bria is a board-certified music therapist who has worked as a school music therapist for all grade levels. She specializes in using music to develop marginalized students’ critical literacy skills by exposing them to music and musical texts that reflect diverse cultural images and history.