Unearthing Root Causes: Youth Perspectives on Violence in New Orleans (Poster 26)

• In Event: Friday Poster Session 3:05 pm
  In Workshop: AERA Youth Teams in Education Research Poster Session

Abstract

In the youth participatory action research (YPAR) project “This Is New Orleans,” young individuals from New Orleans employed an arts-based approach and video documentary/qualitative interview methods to explore community and youth perspectives of violence in the city. The project aimed to counter the prevailing narrative of youth violence by capturing the lived experiences of the youth and the community. The focus was on building economic opportunities in the city as a means to address the root causes of violence.
The data for “This Is New Orleans” was gathered through video documentaries and qualitative interviews, offering rich insights into the community’s experiences and perceptions of violence. The narratives highlighted the systemic issues contributing to violence and the need for economic opportunities as a solution. The project demonstrated the power of arts-based research in YPAR and the transformative potential of video documentaries in capturing and presenting complex social issues. The study calls for a shift towards asset-based approaches in community development to address violence, advocating for changes in socio-economic policies and practices by honoring the resilience of the youth and supporting their efforts to resist oppressive structures.

Authors

• Rae Stevenson, Clark University

• Amil Risin, Youth Teams in Education Research