Implementing Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) to Foster H.O.P.E. Among Black Youth Impacted By Gun Violence

Background and Purpose: The issue of gun violence is considered a substantial public health issue in the United States. There is often an imbalance in the impact of gun violence among young Black males in the United States. Black males aged 15-34 have a firearm homicide rate 11 times higher than White males of the same age group (Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, 2021). Experiences such as exposure to gun violence often result in victimization and the perpetuation of violence by the youth (C.D.C., 2021), which indicates a need for effective interventions to prevent such adverse impacts among Black youth. It is important to understand how youth perceive the issue of gun violence and its impacts on their lives. Youth must also be centered as active agents in addressing such impacting social issues. Therefore, the current study describes a youth participatory action research (YPAR) initiative implemented with 15 racially/ethnically minoritized male youth affected by gun violence in their local community.

Methods: This research study utilized a cohort retrospective study design to explore how 15 Black male middle-school youth in a community partner afterschool program within the southern region of the U.S. respond to gun violence in their community. The youth participated in a 16-week YPAR intervention program, the Healing Oasis for Peace and Empowerment (H.O.P.E.) Circle, which was co-facilitated by the presenters as university adult partners. During the intervention, H.O.P.E. Circle members explored topics such as community violence, cohort development, compassion for self/and others, and critical consciousness. They applied these topics to social action within their community.

Results: The intervention discussions within the H.O.P.E. Circle resulted in the youth participants engaging in social action by planning and leading a youth (gun) violence awareness rally within their community. The H.O.P.E. Circle participants and community advocates began at the front door of their afterschool program site and walked 1.2 miles to a popular park within the city. Participants shared insights about youth (and gun) violence and its effect on their community and the national landscape. Attendees also engaged in reciting and signing a community pledge against gun violence that H.O.P.E. Circle members created.

Conclusions and Implications: The impact of violence exposure places minoritized adolescents at risk for mental health challenges, behavioral difficulties, and educational struggles (McCoy & Bowen, 2015). Such factors impact the identity stories that lower-income, minoritized youth develop, restricting their view of their potential and life possibilities. Therefore, initiatives like H.O.P.E. Circle, which are youth-led and create space and perspective toward fostering and strengthening youth voice in multiply-marginalized youth, are necessary, as in the case of this study (Hull & Katz, 2006). Further, the YPAR process enhanced students’ critical consciousness and agency to promote and become more aware of community-level involvement to impact social issues like gun violence.