Black Girlhood Collaborative Youth Team (Poster 21)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Thursday 3:35 p.m.
  In Poster Session: Research Engagement and Development with Youth (READY) Program

Abstract

Black girls across the United States encounter considerable institutional barriers to educational success with limited opportunities to offer first-person embodied perspectives or counternarratives. Guided by the research question, “In what ways do environmental factors influence the joyful experiences of Black girls?”, we investigate the criticisms, aspirations, and dreams of Black girls within conventional, non-traditional, and informal educational spaces in Florida using Youth Participatory Action Research and creative qualitative methodologies. Our preliminary findings examine the significance of joy in the context of success. We aspire to enrich the academic discourse at the intersection(s) of gender, race, age, joy, and other determinants in the educational experiences of Black girls. Our goal is to urge educational key interest holders to foster positive learning environments for all students.

Authors

• Sophia Ines De La Cruz, University of Florida

• Taryrn T.C. Brown, University of Florida

• Kenesma John, University of Florida

• Kayleigh Alotch, Pace Center for Girls of Alachua County

• Jalexi Reed, Pace Center for Girls of Alachua County

• K'hamanni Smith, Pace Center for Girls of Alachua County

• Jannelle Westersea, Pace Center for Girls of Alachua County

• Jaleah Brown, Pace Center for Girls of Alachua County