Partnering with Local Nonprofits to Empower Urban Black Girls Through an Asset-Based Approach

• In Event: Race, Gender and Governance

Abstract

Many existing studies and reports on the experiences of women and girls tend to emphasize deficits and negative outcomes, with limited focus on the specific experiences of women and girls of color, particularly Black women and girls who navigate the compounded effects of racism, sexism, and ageism on a daily basis. The experiences and outcomes of Black women and girls are often marginalized or overlooked in policy discussions. Addressing this gap, the present study employs an asset-based approach to explore the lived experiences, strengths, and resources of Black girls residing in an urban environment. In partnership with a local nonprofit youth development organization, the study utilizes a mixed-methods design, including surveys and focus groups with Black adolescent girls, and interviews with their parents/guardians and Black emerging adult women, to provide a more comprehensive and strengths-centered narrative of Black girls' lives.

Results demonstrate the racial and ethnic identity development, individual resilience, gendered-racial socialization, family dynamics, housing and education contexts, community resilience, social support networks, and physical and mental wellbeing of these Black girls. The findings also highlight individual strengths, such as positivity, independence, and creativity, and community assets, including family members, friends, college support programs, and after-school initiatives. These insights contribute to a broader understanding of Black girls’ lived experiences and will inform policymaking, program development, and community-based strategies aimed at better supporting and empowering Black girls in urban settings.

Author

• Yali Pang, Virginia Commonwealth University
  Presenting Author