Youth of color represent the fastest growing segment of the U.S. youth population. According to new research by the Center for Promise, the research institute of America’s Promise Alliance, fear, along with inequitable access to social supports, opportunities and experiences essential for healthy development, place this group at increased risk for poor health outcomes. Released in November, Barriers to Wellness: Voices and Views from Young People in Five Cities highlights the work and findings of youth in five cities – Boston, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia and St. Paul – as they set out to design and lead a research study to explore what affects their health and wellness. Despite differences in approach and geography, the young researchers found meaningfully similar results. Across all five cities, youth of color cited stressors like racial profiling, lack of access to community resources, unsafe neighborhoods, and fear of police – alongside traditional health challenges like drug use – as major obstacles to wellness. During the webinar, the Center for Promise research team along with our partners in Boston and Philadelphia discussed what they learned about both the state of youth wellness across the country and the power of youth-led, community-based participatory research. Speakers included: Dr. Linda Sprague Martinez, Boston University School of Social Work Jamorris Patterson, Youth Researcher, Boston Dy’Mon Pendelton, Youth Researcher, Philadelphia Jennifer Whistler, Education Coordinator, JEVS Human Services, Philadelphia Craig McClay, Advisor for Youth Engagement, Center for Promise About Barriers to Wellness Youth researchers in five cities, under the guidance of Dr. Linda Sprague Martinez, Professor at the BU School of Social Work, identified and prioritized health areas and threats in their communities and led the assessment design and implementation. Adult program staff at each site in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, and St. Paul supported the young people with protocol development and implementation and data analysis. The end result, Barriers to Wellness, features the common themes that emerged across the five cities. Barriers to Wellness and this webinar are generously supported by Target

1. Barriers to Wellness:
Insights from a Youth-led Community-Based
Participatory Research Study
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
4 p.m. - 5p.m. EST
#SAFEPLACES
#BARRIERS2WELLNESS

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Craig McClay
Youth Engagement Advisor
Center for Promise – Boston University School of Education

3. AGENDA
3
•
• WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS
• OVERVIEW AND REPORT FINDINGS
– Dr. Linda Sprague Martinez, BU School of Social Work
• LEADING AND LEARNING: YOUTH SHARE EXPERIENCES FROM THE FIELD
– Jamorris Patterson, Boston Research Team
• PARTNERING WITH YOUTH: AN ORGANIZATION’S PERSPECTIV
– Jennifer Whistler, Education Coordinator, JEVS Human Services, Philadelphia partner
site
• QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
• CLOSING REMARKS

4. 4
•
• In 2016, the Center for Promise partnered with community-based
organizations and grassroots organizers
• First of its kind multi-site youth-led health and wellness
assessment
• Partnered with 35 youth researchers from five cities - Boston,
Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, and St. Paul
• Barriers to Wellness: Voices and Views from Young People in Five
Cities released in November 2016
ABOUT THE STUDY

5. 5
Linda Sprague Martinez, PhD
Principal Investigator – Center for Promise Research Fellow
Assistant Professor at Boston University School of Social Work

6. PROJECT TIMELINE
6

7. YOUTH RESEARCH TEAMS WENT RIGHT INTO THEIR SOURCES…
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City Youth Demographics Topics Explored Assessment Methods
Boston Black, African American (n=4)
Multiracial (n=1)
Hispanic, Latino (n=2)
Mean age (18.14 years)
Age range (16-21 years)
Gender (4 male; 3 female)
Police interactions
Gentrification
Stress
Violence and safety
Food environment
Racism/race relations
Sleep
Mental health
Survey administered in person
Chicago Black/African American (n=8)
Mean age (16.13 years)
Age range (15-17 years)
Gender (2 male; 6 female)
Police interactions
Violence and safety
Food environment
Racism/race relations
Safe sex
Drug use
College access
Survey administered in person
Denver Black/African American (n=6)
Multiracial (n=2)
Mean age (16.13 years)
Age range (13-18 years)
Gender (3 male; 5 female)
Police interactions
Gentrification
Racism/race relations
Teen pregnancy
Observation
Key informant interviews
Photovoice
Philadelphia Black/African American (n=4)
Asian Indian (n=2)
Mean age (17.33)
Age range (17-19 years)
Gender (1 male; 5 female)
Police interactions
Violence and safety
Food environment
Racism/race relations
Drug use
Teen pregnancy
Stereotypes
Social media
Peer Pressure
Survey administered in person
Photovoice
St. Paul Black/African American (n=5)
Multiracial (n=1)
Mean age ( 26.17 years)
Age range (23-34 years)
Gender (5 male; 1 female)
Police interactions
Stress
Unemployment
Mass incarceration
Quality of education
Survey administered in person

8. THREATS TO HEALTH AND WELL-
BEING IDENTIFIED
8

9. … AND HERE’S WHAT THEY FOUND
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1. Young people are under stress
2. Young people feel unsafe
3. Young people mistrust and fear police, leading to anxiety and
avoidance of public spaces
4. Young people observe and suffer from a lack of access to
community resources
5. Young people cite stereotyping and racial bias as reasons they feel
unsafe and unwelcome
6. Young people engage in risky behaviors to cope with stress

10. 10
Jamorris Patterson
Youth Researcher
Boston, Massachusetts

11. RESULTS FROM BOSTON
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Stress
• 78% agreed with the statement,
“Youth are living under stress.”
Safety
• Only 5.7% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “Youth feel safe in
the community.”
• Youth fear violence, gangs, and shootings.
Police Relations
• 20% of 123 young people agreed with the statement, “Young people in my
community go to the police if they need help.”
• High levels of violence, poor relationships with police, mistrust, and fear.

12. RESULTS FROM BOSTON
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Gentrification and Discrimination
• 44% of youth surveyed are worried about gentrification.
• Youth commented on displacement and difficulty dealing with
neighborhood change and feeling unwelcome in their own community.
• 70% of youth agreed that they feel discriminated against because of their
race

13. RESULTS FROM BOSTON
13
Lack of Access to Community Resources
• 27% of youth agreed with the statement, “Young people have access to
healthy and affordable food.”
• Youth cited fast food outlets as the places where young people get their
food.

14. 14
Jamorris Patterson
Youth Researcher
Boston, Massachusetts

15. 15
Jennifer Whistler
Education Coordinator at JEVS Human Services
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
craigm@americaspromise.org
#BARRIERS2WELLNESS #SAFEPLACES

17. THANK YOU for your participation!
Download the report on our website -
#BARRIERS2WELLNESS #SAFEPLACES