Constructing Meaning about Exposure to Community Violence: Participatory Action Research with Urban Youth of Color in Boston, MA

Objective: Youth of color are exposed to high levels of community violence that manifests itself in multiple forms and is perpetuated by multiple entities and individuals. Around 40% of urban youth report having being exposed to a shooting and many more youth report exposure to lesser forms of community violence (Gardner and Brooks-Gun, 2009). These high levels of exposure are threatening youths’ overall well-being. There needs to be increased examination of how neighborhood-level processes shape youths’ exposure to violence. Using a participatory action lens allows youth to articulate their own experiences on how exposure to violence affects their day-to-day lives and also how to protect themselves against these effects. This presentation describes the processes as well as data associated with a multi-neighborhood exploratory research study that engaged black and latino/a empowered youth and families in the Boston area to develop ideas around how violence impacts them and their community. The main question within this study asks how black and latino/a youth in Boston perceive the impact of violence within their communities in Boston. Additional questions for exploration looked at how their families perceive the impact of violence and how this exposure to violence manifests itself within the communities they identify with. Engaging those traditionally left out of the research process, community engaged approaches to research represent a critical shift to be used further in health centered research.

Methods: The first phase of this study included in-depth qualitative interviews with youth in four neighborhoods in the Boston area that are predominantly populated by people of color. Subsequently, their family members were also interviewed about their perception of violence within their communities. The second phase of the study engaged youth in a participatory research partnership in which they co-led action-oriented efforts to understand and improve community health and well-being. The research method employed for this phase was participatory photo mapping (in which youth designed and led neighborhood tours to document community conditions). The data were collected, analyzed, and disseminated in partnership with youth participants. This participatory, multi-method approach was used to simultaneously gather data and promote youth engagement and leadership.

Findings and Implications: There are many benefits of youth-led health assessment. Youth conceptualizations of their health and wellness, as well as the determinants of health and wellness are different from those of adults. Their perception of the impact that exposure to different forms of violence has on themselves and their communities also differ from adults. In addition, youth-led assessment facilitates further youth participation; their approaches to data collection are more culturally appropriate. Moreover, in the context of analysis, they pick up on nuances in the data that may otherwise be missed by adults. Listening to young people provides critical insights into how best to support them moving forward.

Gardner, M., & Brooks‐Gunn, J. (2009). Adolescents' exposure to community violence: Are neighborhood youth organizations protective? Journal of Community Psychology, 37(4), 505-525.