Rosie Awori – Local Journalism Initiative
Dr. Lerona Dana Lewis is looking for Black students and their parents to share their experiences in Montreal’s vocational education system, including whether students feel they have a say in choosing their educational paths.
The University of Ottawa professor in Black Youth Studies is recruiting five to seven parent-and-child pairs for a study of students enrolled in Formation à un métier semi-spécialisé (FMS), a training pathway for semi-skilled occupations.
The research will explore how students entered these programs, whether the pathway reflects their aspirations and how families support their participation. Teachers and workplace supervisors involved in FMS programs are also invited to participate.
For Lewis, a central question is whether young people feel their futures are being shaped with them.
“Vocational jobs are necessary for society to function,” she said. “But they must be something that a young person deliberately chooses rather than feels that they’re forced into.”
The project grew out of her work with the LaSalle Multicultural Resource Centre, where she led community research examining Black students’ journeys through Montreal schools and into higher education or employment.
During that work, a young participant described entering an FMS program she had not wanted to pursue. Her experience prompted Lewis to investigate how Black students experience these pathways, including the guidance they receive and the challenges they encounter.
Lewis stresses that the study is intended to understand students’ experiences and identify ways to improve their outcomes. It will also explore successful practices that could be shared across schools.
Her interest in school-family relationships has personal roots. Raised in Grenada by two teachers, Lewis was accustomed to parents being closely involved in their children’s education. When her own son entered French school in Montreal, she spoke no French and wondered how she would provide that same support.
Her doctoral research subsequently examined how Caribbean parents navigated their children’s education in a second language. She found families using creative strategies, from buying French-language books to enrolling children in community activities, despite communication barriers with schools.
The current study extends that attention to families’ experiences and the resources available to them. Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the research findings will be shared with academic audiences, participating education authorities and community organizations supporting parents.
Eligible students must identify as Black, currently attend an FMS program and be willing to participate alongside a parent. English- and French-speaking families are welcome.
Interested families, teachers and workplace supervisors can contact Lewis at leronadana.lewis@uottawa.ca.
