Revitalizing Education and Learning (REAL), a project of Community Educational Services, trains educators to use techniques that empower students to contribute and implement ideas for making curriculum and classrooms safe, equitable and inclusive. Through this youth empowerment approach, students develop a greater sense of responsibility and ownership for their education.

The REAL Leaders Program supports diverse youth of color, ages 16-22, with intensive summer training and paid internships. Leaders partner with teachers to implement the youth empowerment approach in the classroom curriculum and through service learning projects that connect students to the broader community.

REAL/TEAMS Partnership

In a new collaboration between TEAMS and REAL, REAL provides comprehensive training and support to 24 TEAMS Teaching Fellows in the Program at USF, partnering them with REAL Leaders. In addition, REAL Leaders share youth perspectives, lead workshops, and help to facilitate discussions at pedagogical seminars. They present the Youth Empowerment Model based on REAL’s philosophy, which TEAMS Fellows utilize when implementing service learning projects with their students.

For more information about REAL, visit Community Educational Services. Or contact Pui Ling Tam, who serves as the Youth Empowerment Program Manager.