Youth Development Through the Arts: Conceptualizing Culture-Centered, Community-Based Arts (CCBA) Programs

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 9:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Centering Culture in Adolescent Social and Academic Development (Table 4)

Abstract

The arts can provide a valuable and culturally affirming developmental space for youth of color. Despite what we know about the power of arts learning, youth of color are less likely to have access to arts in their schools. Culture-Centered Community-Based Arts (CCBA) programs may provide vital spaces to support the well-being for youth of color. We define CCBA in a three-part way: They are community-based youth development programs that offer high-quality arts learning and center the racial/ethnic cultures of youth-of-color participants. This conceptual paper describes the three components and the larger study driving this conceptualization. Our findings on characteristics of CCBA programs suggest that these are optimal spaces for arts-interested youth of color to thrive.

Authors

• Esohe R. Osai, University of Pittsburgh

• Thomas Akiva, University of Pittsburgh

• Jaclyn Rose Spiezia, University of Pittsburgh

• Alecia Dawn Young, University of Pittsburgh