Assessing youth perspectives on a community-based program: Examining impacts and identity-related differences

• In Event: Poster Session 05
  In Poster Session: PS 05 Topic -Diversity, Equity & Social Justice

Abstract

ANYTOWNTM is a community-based residential program for adolescents that seeks to promote inclusiveness, social responsibility, and community involvement. Prior research and evaluation indicates that youth who participate in the ANYTOWNTM program often experience many positive effects such as social responsibility, intergroup friends, acceptance of similarities and differences, and critical consciousness. While previous research on ANYTOWNTM often utilizes psychological surveys, we have yet to examine youth perspectives on the impacts and efficacy of this program. Given that many of these community-based residential programs center democratic practices and transformative goals, this study aims to examine adolescents’ perspectives on elements of the program that they perceived as most impactful. Furthermore, we aimed to explore how characteristics of adolescent identity (e.g., gender identity, race, and socioeconomic status) may impact youth’s perspective on the program, because these differences represent disparities in social power. To gather these data, program staff administered a brief, open-ended question to youth who participated in the program (i.e., “In what ways did participating in the program impact you?”). Using Graneheim and Lundman’s guidelines for qualitative analysis, we analyzed these data to explore the ways ANYTOWNTM impacts youth that are most salient to them. Based on these analyses, we identified four major themes: (1) new knowledge and insight of other groups and identities; (2) feeling more empowered within their own community and identity; (3) changing the way that they identify their sexual orientation; and (4) socializing and building bonds with other people. Responses from participants with different demographic backgrounds were largely similar across categories, although key nuances will be discussed. Results reaffirmed that ANYTOWNTM provides knowledge and builds social bonds, while also providing new insights into the impact of ANYTOWNTM on empowerment and sexual orientation. Future programming aimed at promoting youth inclusivity should use a similar approach to involve youth in the evaluation of their program to gain a deeper understanding of what is most impactful. Furthermore, research could aim to garner youth perspective in the planning process of such programs to further empower youth voices. Additionally, by examining how responses vary based on identity, we can understand how to adjust programming to fit the specific needs of different students.

Authors

• Marguerite Lee Jenkins, Michigan State University
  Presenting Author

• Sara T Stacy, Michigan State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Kristofer Castro, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
  Non-Presenting Author