Learning from the Frontlines: Community Stakeholder Perceptions of the Drivers of Youth Violence

• In Event: Integrating Perspectives: Developing a multi-faceted understanding of community violence and safety

Abstract

Youth violence is a significant social problem that has long-term negative impacts on individuals and the communities in which it is concentrated. Building on a growing body of cross-level research, we examine the drivers of youth violence across the systemic, neighborhood, interpersonal, and individual levels in one mid-size Midwestern city. Our work is unique in bringing a community-engaged and qualitative approach to the question of what drives youth violence. Specifically, we draw upon community-specific frameworks for integrating stakeholder perspectives to analyze 16 interviews with youth service providers (e.g., coaches, religious leaders, nonprofit personnel) working in underserved communities. We find that service providers are keenly aware of the interplay between systemic level policy decisions and the concentration of violence in particular communities. And although perceptions of the drivers of violence largely mirrored the prior literature on larger cities, our respondents also highlighted some unique factors thar are absent from the current literature. Overall, these findings demonstrate the value of learning from and working in partnership with those on the frontlines of youth violence.

Authors

• Carole Gibbs, Michigan State University

• Alaina De Biasi, Wayne State University

• Jennifer Cobbina-Dungy, Michigan State University

• Louie Rivers, III, North Carolina State University