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Project
Contact: Chiedza Rodriguez, B.A.
Grant:
CT State Department of Mental Health
and Addiction Services |
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Abstract
Fundamental support systems for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth of color, including
family, religion, and schools, are often lacking, incognizant
of support needs, or at times strongly conflicted due to beliefs
around sexuality. Support systems that exist for older LGBTQ
individuals are often not available, accessible, or appropriate
for younger (ages 14-20) youth coming to terms with their sexual
identity. Available support systems often lack experience or
knowledge necessary to effectively work with LGBTQ who also
identify as youth of color. Launched in 1999, the Sexual Minority
Youth Action Research Project expanded the work of the Youth
Action Research Institute to bring action research, advocacy
and leadership to a traditionally marginalized youth population.
The program worked with urban LGBTQ youth, using an adapted participatory
action research training curriculum that includes issue identification
and clarification, ecological modeling, introduction to research
methods, and action strategy development. In this way, participating
youth explored and addressed issues affecting them, their communities
and schools. The formative research conducted by the youth contributes
to the understanding and knowledge about issues faced by LGBTQ
youth, how they are coping, and resources available to them.
In addition to the research activities, the project provided
LGBTQ youth with the space to connect with their peers, and
where they could have conversations around their multiple identities,
school and family supports, safer sex, self-determination,
and other topics that the youth choose or may seem relevant
to their selected issue. The Institute for Community Research
also provided youth with opportunities to attend conferences
where they present on their project, and other cultural/educational
activities that they might not otherwise be exposed to.
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Project
Details
During the 2002-2003 school year,
the Sexual Minority Youth Action Research Project worked
in two urban communities in Connecticut (Hartford and New Haven)
to identify and address issues affecting LGBTQ youth. Through
this two-community study, project participants gathered information
on a critical issue that youth identified as facing urban - particularly
African-American and Puerto Rican - LGBTQ youth. In past years
youth have explored issues such as: supports for LGBTQ youth,
available resources and their accessibility to youth; and identifying
barriers for youth access to these resources. Project staff
recruited two teams of six high school age Community Youth Researchers
who received intensive training in participatory action research.
The teams met separately for 8 to 10 hours/week to conduct
research in their communities. The two teams came together periodically
to discuss progress, share ideas and receive joint trainings
as needed. Using research results, Community Youth Researchers
worked with project staff to develop and begin implementation
of action strategies based on their research findings, which
were designed to affect change and to build resources for urban
LGBTQ youth. |
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Links
to Other Projects
Summer Youth
Research Institute
Sexual Minority Youth Action Research Project
Diffusing Youth-Based PAR for
Prevention Model
Education and Advocacy Project
Links to External Web sites
The
Black Gay Research Group
Connecticut State
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Gay, Lesbian
and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
National Youth Advocacy
Coalition
National Latina/o
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Organization (LLEGO)
Project
100: Hartford Gay and Lesbian Community Center
True Colors
Youth Resource - A
Project of Advocates for Youth
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