Photovoice Research Among Kingsessing Youth

• In Event: Park in a Truck: Empowering Youth to Improve Their Neighborhood, One Park at a Time

Abstract

Photovoice is an arts-focused research method to 1) enable participants to record and reflect on their community, 2) promote knowledge and critical dialogue about the community, and 3) reach policymakers. We are conducting a Photovoice research project with 8 male youth from the Kingsessing neighborhood, ages 11-16, 4 of whom are PAs and 4 are not. In this project we ask participants to take pictures documenting personal experiences in their neighborhood, reflect upon their perceptions of neighborhood assets and challenges, and, upon conclusion of the program, the impact of the PA program. This presentation will share photographs taken by youth in the project, their narrative reflections, and the implications of the Photovoice research project.

Author

• Katie A. Bucher, Muhlenberg College